The latest in a monthly series of updates on learning-related government initiatives.
27 March: Lifelong Learning Minister Malcolm Wicks today announces there will be an extra £52 million in funding over the next three years for Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services for adults.
27 March: Education and Employment Minister Tessa Blackstone announces an additional £180 million funding for Modern Apprenticeships, spread over the next 3 years. The government expects that by 2003-04 there will be 320,000 Modern Apprentices, compared to 243,600 today.
22 March: Minister for Learning and Technology Michael Wills announces the appointment of John Taylor as Chair of the Governing Board of the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa). John Taylor will take over from Heather Du Quesnay who steps down as Chair on 31 March.
21 March: Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett announces that £115m will be made available to support those undertaking Further Education and sixth form study over the next two years. The money will be in the form of loans and grants to cover fees, travel and childcare costs for those aged 19-25 studying towards the equivilent of level 2 or level 3 NVQ qualifications.
20 March: The new Connexions service, which will offer advice and support to young people is to become reality from April when it launches across the country for the first time. The £420m project will launch initiatlly in Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire/Milton Keynes, London North, London South, West of England, Devon/Cornwall, the Black Country, Coventry/Warwick, Shropshire, Lincolnshire/Rutland, South Yorkshire, Cheshire/Warrington and Cumbria. Connexions should be available nationally in 2002-03.
9 March: 25,000 Jobcentre computers are being donated to a cerebral palsy charity, to raise funds and provide IT training.
8 March: 1,200 UK online centres are launched, giving public access to computers and the Internet. A further 1050 centres are planned. Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett said the centres had been launched in a bid to 'bridge the digital divide' between those with access to new technology and those without.
6 March: Tessa Jowell is to call for a Skills and Mobility Taskforce to identify European skills gaps and a strategy for bridging them at the Stockholm European Council later this month. Her plans include an EU-wide woman entrepreneur of the year award to encourage women to set up their own business, and targets for employment rates among the over 50s.
6 March: Lifelong Learning Minister Malcolm Wicks announces a new £10 million investment into Learning Partnerships, which aim to bring together local partners including voluntary and community bodies, LEAs, colleges, schools and employers to identify skills needs. The government says that the roles of Learning Partnerships and the incoming Learning and Skills Councils are 'distinct but complementary'.
Previous issues
Government Watch February 2001
Government Watch January 2001
Government Watch December
Government Watch November
Government Watch October
