Individual Learning Accounts have a successful year

The Minister for Employment, Dr Sean Farren, has hailed the success of the new Individual Learning Accounts (ILA’s).

ILAs are a UK-wide initiative for people aged over 18. They cost nothing to get and provide direct financial support for people who want to further their education by offering discounts of up to £400 on certain courses.

Looking back over almost a year since they were introduced last September, the Minister said: “We have reached our initial target of 20,000 Northern Ireland people using their Account for the first time, and have done so over six months ahead of expectations. This means that the launch phase of the initiative is now over and it has become an established part of the help available for people to get back into education and training.

“While the special introductory offer of £150 for new Account users will end from 17 August, the scheme will still provide valuable financial help toward the cost of a wide range of part-time courses. Account holders can get 20 per cent off the cost of most courses up to £100, and 80 per cent up to £200 for the most popular computer training courses.

“In a recent survey of the first Account users, over 90 per cent said they found their ILA card easy to use, and that their learning expectations had been met or exceeded, and would consider using it again for future learning. Most of these were people in their 30’s and 40’s, many of whom had little or no recent learning experience. I am particularly pleased that one in six had no previous formal qualifications.

“Over the next few weeks many people will be thinking about what education or training courses they may take during the autumn and winter. Individual Learning Accounts are there to help make their learning more accessible and affordable.”

(GB)