August 20, 2008
And on     Massive thanks to everyone who contributed thoughts and signatures to our response to the Government's consultation document on adult education, Informal Adult Learning: Shaping the Way Ahead.   On Thursday 12 June we handed in a copy of our response letter, signed by 2,246 people, to a member of the Access and Inclusion team (below, on right) who was involved in preparing the consultation document, at the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills in central London.
	Please support the campaign to save traditional adult education - professionally taught day and evening classes. Now that the Government has the responses to its document, the real story will begin and we will need to go on campaigning strongly, with other groups and organisations, to make our case heard.  So, if we have your email address already, we'll keep you posted and involved. And if you'd like to be included in updates and requests for support and backup, send us an email to info@saveadulteducation.co.uk   You can read our response letter on this site. It's in two parts: an introductory letter and a detailed response to questions posed by the consultation. So what is this campaign all about? What did the consultation document say and why has it got us so worried? To find out, read on.  And if you agree with what we're saying, please become a supporter - it's easy and it's free!
	This is Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and MP for Harlow in Essex. And this is what he thinks: "Today's learners are moving away from traditional college-based evening classes, towards new and modern methods, encouraged by an explosion of learning through the internet, broadcast media, voluntary organisations and museums. I believe we must learn from these exciting developments and those groups and individuals leading the way if we are to properly target and focus support to meet people's desire for knowledge and intellectual stimulation." Got that? So, if you've figured out how to use Google and Wikipedia, Bill Rammell will be happy. If you'd rather keep going to well run, publically funded traditional evening classes where you interact with other humans, it might be an idea to drop Bill a line at Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6SW or call him on 020 7215 5555. Read our newsletter here