If only we’d signed up Prince William..

5th October 2001, 1:00am

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If only we’d signed up Prince William..

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/if-only-wed-signed-prince-william
SOMEONE connected with the inquiry into lifelong learning indicated to me recently that they had never known so much lobbying by so many different interests.

When I was a boy, growing up in Lanarkshire, lobbying had a quite different meaning. Unfortunately, despite the requirement to entertain as well as inform in this column, good taste inhibits me from further explanation.

The sector has done its fair share of lobbying and, as I write, the finishing touches are being put to college responses. The Association of Scottish Colleges has obviously been heavily involved in formulating the main FE case. Some weeks ago it hosted a conference at which the main speakers (and listeners) were Alex Neil and Marilyn Livingston, both members of the Scottish Parliament’s enterprise and lifelong learning committee.

It goes without saying that the FE sector believes it has the central role in lifelong learning in Scotland. The statistics prove that from age 16 to 90-plus, further education provides the widest range of qualifications and subjects delivered by the widest variety of delivery modes.

It would also be fair to say that the sector still considers itself hard done by in the sense that the years of underfunding have not been properly rectified and that the continued imposition of efficiency gains are producing further strains, especially in industrial relations terms.

I know that comments like these are likely to be seen as ungrateful by both the funding council and members of the Scottish Executive, who believe that they have put a great deal more money into the system. And they have: unfortunately they have also required a significant increase of delivery in return.

It isn’t only FE that believes it has a significant role. I understand that the higher education sector considers itself to be the main vehicle for widening access. Those of us who have links with the HE sector know some wonderful examples of disadvantaged students being aided by universities. But we also know other examples where elitist policies have blocked articulation routes, especially in the older universities.

Perhaps the lure of access money is encouraging some universities to be less elitist. Others perhaps consider that the entry of Prince William to St Andrews is a sufficient demonstration.

Then there is the Scottish Enterprise Network. There is certainly the belief that many of its members are contemptuous of the FE sector, viewing it as simply another training provider rather than a significant player. FE has been encouraged to assume a more important role in its relationship with the local enterprise companies (LECs), but they are still the holders of massive amounts of money and colleges are still played in a supplicatory role to them.

While there are heartening examples of good relationships between LECs and colleges there are cases of what can be described as uncooperative attitudes by parts of the enterprise network.

The general view is that the rationale behind the the lifelong learning inquiry was to bring coherence and efficiency to the incredible variety and complexity of providers, funding bodies and funding mechanisms. The inquiry, however, is a major opportunity for FE to make its case and gain a more central role with greater control of more resources.

Other providers will be making their case too. I am reasonably optimistic about our prospects, but I would be more optimistic if Prince William had started last week in an FE college.

Norman Williamson is principal of Coatbridge College and a member of the Educational Institute of Scotland.

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