My previous posting raised a comment about those who return to higher level learning as opposed to those who could be perceived to follow the learning route to avoid starting a career - perhaps an overly jaundiced view!!
However there is a point here about how does an individual make the choice to invest in learning? The investment is not just money, particularly for those more advanced in years, who have a job, a family and are perhaps involved in community activities as well. Surveys show that a barrier to learning for individuals is that they don't have the time - and it is easy to look at this as just another excuse. Make the time might be a reaction.
I'll use an unnamed example who my husband worked with a number of years ago. His educational attainment wasn't over Level 2, but he was in work. His wife wasn't as they had four children to look after. He worked a full shift every day, overtime whenever there was any, Saturdays whenever the employers required it - all to ensure he could pay his mortgage and feed and clothe himself, his wife and their four children.
In this case, how would X afford the time for learning, let alone the money? He might in future get a slightly better paid job if he had level 3 qualifications, but the imperative of "now" for his immediate needs outweighs that potential future income stream.
Selling learning to X in those circumstances requires a whole different understanding of learning, and a new method of delivery.
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