What is the Government doing to provide accessible education opportunities to people working in unskilled labour?
We are committed to supporting people to upskill and learn through our Adult Learning in the Community, Apprenticeship, Personal Learning Account programmes and the Wales Union Learning Fund. We provide a range of bespoke learning and sector specific opportunities, including essential skills to support individuals back into learning. These offer both employment and wider social benefits. They are intended to be agile enough to respond to regional and national skills needs.
On 1 August 2024 the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research known as MEDR will become operational. MEDR will be the regulatory body responsible for the funding, oversight and regulation of tertiary education including Adult Learning. The statement of strategic priorities for MEDR which was published in February 2024 placed lifelong learning as a top strategic focus. MEDR will be expected to review the planning and organisation of adult education and develop a plan to improve basic skills acquisition across the Welsh adult population.