7 November 2005

The head of the National Audit Office (NAO), Sir John Bourn, has praised the government's learndirect service.

Commenting on the rapid expansion of the service in the recently published NAO report, Mr Bourn said:

"learndirect is a major innovative feat that within a few short years has become the largest education provider of its type in the world."

He praised it for addressing the gap in skills within the UK's working population.

It has aimed to boost the capabilities and confidence of those who may have missed out on vital qualifications and fallen through the educational net.

However, Mr Bourn also outlined a number of recommendations on how to improve the scheme, including the reduction of management and administration costs.

"They need to be streamlined so that more money can go into services for learners, and to increase the emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses," he added.

Since its launch in 1998, a total of 1.7 million people have taken 4 million learndirect courses.

The scheme also includes a national advice line and website that provides a further six million advice sessions a year on careers and future training.

Since 2003 there have also been around 6,000 online learning centres operating across the country.

© Adfero Ltd

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