A new report by the Lifelong Education Commission, in partnership with the Chartered Institution for Further Education, Developing Industry-Expert Teaching for Higher Skills argues that the Further Education and Skills sector is facing a growing crisis in recruiting and retaining staff who can combine up-to-date experience and expertise in industry with the ability to teach young and adult students to a high standard.
Issues of pay, conditions, and training in the FE sector, as well as fragmented policies and funding pots, all make it very difficult to attract and retain teaching professionals who can expertly guide the new generations of the UK’s vast talent pool. This leads to lower attainment, especially in technical qualifications, and hurts the UK’s commercial prospects and wider economy.
The urgent need to improve the teaching of technical skills in particular, is accepted by the education sector, employers of all kinds, and Government. But recent policy initiatives and funding are widely seen as a ‘drop in the ocean’, raising concerns that it will take a long time to revive an FE and skills sector which has languished in financial difficulties for so long.
To reverse the situation, bold action is needed, as stated in the report’s key recommendations.
