The future of adult guidance
Posted: 1 July 2010
A Presidential Statement from Stephen McNair
This is a statement to the incoming Government about the importance of adult guidance, and its relationship to the Government's plans for careers guidance as we understand them, on behalf of NAEGA, the national professional body for those who provide education and careers guidance to adults, across a wide range of agencies and institutions.
The Coalition Government is committed to increasing the efficiency of Government and devolving power, strengthening individual responsibility, and increasing the autonomy of educational institutions. We share these objectives, and believe that better adult guidance can contribute to all of them.
Good guidance enables individuals (and especially those with least previous education and support from friends and relatives) to make better choices about learning and careers; it enables institutions to respond more creatively to real need; and reduces the provision of courses which have little economic or personal benefit. The outcome is individuals and communities in greater control of their lives, and a reduction in the inefficient "micromanagement" of education and training by the state. We recognise that many Government initiatives in recent years have been well intentioned, but produced perverse incentives, sometimes leading people to courses which deliver little benefit, and to learning which is disappointing and demotivating.
NAEGA was founded to work for good educational and careers guidance for all adults. Over 30 years, we have argued that individual life chances and wellbeing are increased when people have access to impartial professional guidance about their career and learning needs, and that the efficiency of the education and training system, and the labour market, are all enhanced if individuals take better informed decisions for themselves about what to learn, when and how.
Slowly over the years we have seen political understanding grow, and seen elements of a good system put in place. When the last Government announced its plans for a world class "Adult Advancement and Careers Service" to be launched in August 2010, we saw at last the possibility of achieving the goal we have sought for so long and a very large commitment of public and professional resource has been committed to putting this in place. However, the Conservative Party manifesto proposed the creation of an all age careers service, and the future is now less clear.
The distinction between an adult service and an all age one is clearly critical. Although NAEGA's focus is on the needs of adults, we certainly support the principle that young people should have a good service, and many professional skills are shared between those working with young people and adults. However, a service whose main focus is on helping young people negotiate the increasingly fraught transitions from full time schooling into FE, HE and employment, risks overlooking the needs of adults across forty years in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing labour market, not to mention twenty or more years of active retirement. Industries, technologies, and individuals' circumstances all change, people need to learn to manage life crises and new opportunities, and to find ways making a positive contribution to society in employment and beyond it. So most adults will need advice at some stage, and some groups (like those who have been least successful in school, people in disadvantaged communities and declining industries, people with poor basic skills, people with disabilities and poor health) will need particular support.
We are not opposed to an "all age service" in principle, and are aware of the models already operating in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand. We can see that there might be administrative efficiencies in a single structure, and we certainly wish to ensure the continuity of service to people in the critical phase from 18-25. However, we are very concerned about the protection of the service to adults, in overall resourcing, and in the areas where professional expertise, and the knowledge base, are distinct. The existing all age services operate in smaller and more socially cohesive countries than England, and anecdotal evidence from practitioners working there does not suggest that they necessarily deliver the volume or range of support to adults which was proposed for the planned adult service. Furthermore, there is evidence historically that, when resources are constrained, "all age" education services tend to become skewed in favour of young people. This is exactly what happened to FE funding over the last decade, where a claimed growth in spending on "adults" was actually a reduction for those over 25, masked by an expansion for people aged 18-25.
We are also aware that policymakers sometimes find the guidance world confusing, and are frustrated by the existence of many professional bodies apparently advancing different visions and priorities. We recognise this, and have, over the years, supported a range of initiatives aimed at bringing the bodies together, and developing common visions of the future. We will continue to do this, since we share many fundamental principles and professional skills. It may well be that, as the new Government's plans become clearer, there will be a case for closer integration. If this is possible, without compromising the interests of adults we will welcome this.
In the meantime we will continue to campaign for the creation of the world class adult service which is so nearly in our grasp. An all age service can work for adults, but only if the frameworks and resources are properly configured. If the distinctive interests of adults are overwhelmed by the urgent priorities for young people, the losers will be not only individual adults, but also the efficiency of the education and training system, and of the broader economy. We do not believe that this is the Government's intention and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with the new Government as its plans develop.
Stephen McNair,
NAEGA President.
1 July 2010