Adult education providers funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are changing the way they deliver training during the Covid-19 outbreak, so that local people continue to learn new skills.
The WMCA is responsible for the region’s £126m adult education budget (AEB), which was devolved from central Government in autumn 2019 to give local people the skills they need to get new and better jobs.
Training colleges and private providers have moved swiftly to deliver adult education courses online instead of face-to-face, or by telephone or post for those learners who do not have internet access.
“Our tutors and support staff are committed to maintaining positive learning experiences and supporting learners’ wellbeing, during very challenging times. Employers and learners alike are responding positively to new ways of working.” Lawrence Barton
Learners can also join online workshops to develop their maths and English in a four-week rolling programme.
Other activities include virtual classrooms, providing links to online materials such as quizzes and games, and staying in touch with learners via FaceTime and video calls.
For those learners with no access to online learning, tutors are setting work using the telephone. Learners can submit work to their tutor by post, or email where they have access to this.
