Pensioners take learning protest to Parliament

21/05/2005

Help the Aged, The WI and the National Pensioners Convention are among those protesting Government funding plans for colleges which will hit older learners particularly hard. 

 

Current Government funding plans for adult learning will mean course fees will continue to rise at a rate of 10-15% a year - regardless of a person’s ability to pay. This, say the organisations, will mean there will be course cuts, fewer concessions for pensioners and less support for associated costs such as transport.

 

There are currently 264,000 college students aged 60 and over. Many more thousands of people are in the 50 to 60 age group, and a great number of these students are working to reskill themselves in order to get back into the workplace.

 

Dr John Brennan, Association of Colleges Chief Executive, told Mature Times:

“Courses for older learners benefit have economic as well as social and health benefits. In a recent survey, over 80% of the British public said they believe all pensioners should have free education. In contrast, Government plans mean that many older people will find that if their course is still running, fees will rise beyond their ability to pay.”

 

David Sinclair, Help the Aged Social Inclusion Policy Manager, said: "At a time when we are all being encouraged to work for longer, colleges provide essential courses for older people which can help get them get back to work and keep them in employment."