Learning is the key to prosperity and personal fulfilment for each of us as individuals as well as for Guernsey as a whole.
If Guernsey is to remain a prosperous, successful community it must retain and develop further a population that is committed to learning. That learning must be provided so that it meets the needs of all sectors of the community and opportunities must be made available for individuals at any stage of their lives.
The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture are responsible for the Island's public provision of education and training. A key element of our strategy is to promote lifelong learning. We have established the following aims:
To help build a competitive economy and inclusive society by:
- Releasing potential in people to make the most of themselves
- Achieving excellence in standards of education and skills
- Increasing the participation in and effectiveness of the island work force
Our Lifelong Learning team is at the core of delivering these principles. It does so by ensuring a balance between raising employability skills and ensuring that general learning opportunities are inclusive to the whole of the community.
The range of opportunities provided through the Lifelong Learning team remains varied. From informal learning opportunities delivered by the Youth Commission to Higher Education at the Guernsey College of Further Education; from Skills Guernsey activities to the States Registered Apprenticeship Scheme, we are constantly reflecting how best to engage with all sectors of the community including those who are initially reluctant to learn.
We are only one piece in the jigsaw of providers and stakeholders in lifelong learning. Its strength lies in the valuable partnership that is fostered with all those who play a role in promoting learning.