Government cuts threatening adult learning curriculum

I WAS interested to read the item (Yorkshire Post, May 11) regarding the Adult Learners Awards Ceremony at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The national campaign, which is “setting out to inspire adults to learn and to try to gain new skills, both for fun and as part of their work”, would seem to be alive and well – or is it?

There is a distinct possibility that adult education in the Huddersfield and surrounding areas is grinding to halt due to the Government’s seeming lack of genuine interest in people’s lifelong learning and associated well-being.

Unlike the promises made to encourage learning in the adult and senior sector, it would appear to be cutting funding, to this particular section of the population.

The courses that have been run under the auspices of Kirklees College (formerly Huddersfield Technical College) for the past number of years – since the college merged with the adult education service in 1990 – seem to be suffering major cut backs in staffing and thus major losses to the adult education curriculum.

This next academic year from September, the whole of the Adult Education Language Department has been axed – with no classes being able to be offered. Is there the distinct probability of others following in the same way?

The Adult Education Centre in Holmfirth has been at the centre of education in this locality since its building as a school, by local subscription way back in 1894, when it was given to the people of Holmfirth for the education of the families in the area.

From this time, it has been used as a school for the local children and adults. It has also been used for evening classes for the local working population and their families and it has now been used for many years as a full time local adult education centre. It may well be that the current pattern of funding of adult education could be putting local centres such as Holmfirth under threat of closure.

So while the adults who are rightly being honoured for their achievements, there is also the sad possibility that this will not be able to continue for much longer.

From: Mrs Jennifer Hunter, Farfield Avenue, Knaresborough.

MY attention was drawn to Jayne Dowle’s column (Yorkshire Post, May 12) about young people’s aspirations. I do not always agree with the content of Ms Dowle’s articles, but she writes extremely well and her status as a very reputable Yorkshire Post columnist is richly deserved.

On this occasion, however, her column not only interested me immensely, but it gained, simultaneously, my utmost admiration. Like Jayne, I strongly believe that young people should be encouraged to fulfil their potential and develop their skills. I am also a great proponent of optimism and praise.

However, a realistic approach should be adopted regarding each young person’s aspirations and this includes drawing their attention to their general weaknesses as well as their particular strengths.

Jayne appears to share my firm conviction that young people need to be able to write English correctly as well has having a good grasp of basic arithmetical skills. These skills can only help people for the entire duration of their adulthood, regardless of the working environment and social surroundings.

However, there are, additionally, other factors which exist which need to be taken into consideration regarding the progress of young people. These factors have existed in the past, exist today and will continue to play a major role in the adult lives of today’s young people.

No learning environments can prepare a young person fully for the rigours of life. In short, there has to be an element of luck involved and in my experience, ‘luck’ comprises being in the right place at the right time and/or knowing the ‘right’ people.

I have noticed that some of my contemporaries who possessed influential connections, such as parents in reputable, highly-paid professions, have enjoyed prestigious careers and achieved a high standard of living. Others who did not have such connections were fortunate to find their niche in life and have done equally well.

Jayne mentioned that her eight-year-old son at present harbours the desire to run a public house. She should not feel too concerned because young people often change their minds. It is, however, possible that her son will eventually aspire to become renowned in a professional field such as banking or politics.

My personal view is that if it is the case that these particular aspirations enter the head of a young person, then parental concern would be understandable!