Welsh Assembly Government Ministers have made the following New Year Resolutions for the year ahead. Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills: ‘To make sure that education is at the forefront of activities to tackle the economic pressures of 2009 in partnership with schools, colleges, universities and employers.
This document presents the background to the consultation. It summarises the key messages, and then presents a detailed summary of the consultation responses which were received. . The consultation ran from 8 September 2008 to 3 November 2008.
The Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills has set intake targets for 2009-10: 775 places for primary courses (370 undergraduate and 405 postgraduate); and 1,100 places for secondary courses (115 undergrad and 985 postgrad).
The Higher Education (HE) sector in Wales is set to receive a welcome boost following an announcement that a scheme will be put in place to support Welsh Universities to extend their fundraising efforts and stimulate further investment in higher education from private investors.
In the 2008/09 academic year to date, a total of 53,820 applications had been received for student support in Wales. 39,980 applications had been received for tuition fee loans; 32,200 students had been awarded a tuition fee grant.
In the 2008/09 academic year to date, 34,630 applications for EMA have been received. Of these, 28,740 have been approved and 620 rejected.
The Government will fund an additional 35,000 apprentices next year to strengthen the country's competitiveness and help beat the downturn. It will invest £140 million to deliver new and additional apprentices nationally in both the public and private sectors.
A database of vocational experts who want to 'pass on their skills' as further education (FE) teachers, tutors or trainers has been launched by LLUK to help colleges and independent learning providers fill key learning delivery roles.
Lifelong Learning UK is about to commence the first annual collection of workforce data developed specifically for work based learning and adult and community learning providers.
Young people will be mentors to their peers as Government announces £720,000 to help young people become more active citizens, Beverley Hughes, Children and Young People’s Minister, announced.
