Isolation and cost batter rural learning

A growing crisis in rural adult education is being caused by lack of resources and the diversity and isolation of communities, a series of case studies by the University of Sussex has found.

Researchers from the university's centre for continuing education found few adequate opportunities for progression of learning, and tension in many areas between the requirements of "incomer" groups and locals.

Their report on barriers to participation in rural adult education says that rural problems seem invisible to national policy-makers, exacerbating a long history of under-provision.

"We were impressed by the vitality of much of the work being done and the morale of staff, despite many recent vicissitudes," said report editor John Lowerson.

"But there are many major gaps and responsiveness is inhibited considerably by present policies and their short-term emphasis."

He added: "It became clear to us that there was a growing sense of crisis on a national scale. All adult education is a challenging activity for both providers and students but much of recent thinking and practice has concentrated heavily on urban needs, ethnic minority and gender issues and the deprivations of a town-based underclass."

Their research in Cornwall found progression hindered by the lack of a university in the county.

In East Sussex, there were villages where "peace and quiet" were preferred to evening classes. Lack of resources meant that colleges could not meet identified needs for supported home study, and lack of transport inhibited participation.

A study of Derbyshire included the dilemma of the divided village, where "incomers" such as richer retired people seemed better served because they were more able to articulate their needs than the locals.

"Only a service which links educational need to social and economic deprivation, and which has adequate resources for the slow and necessary task of building relationships of trust with people, is likely to be in a position to respond to the complete range of educational needs in a locality," the report said.

In North Yorkshire, transport difficulties and isolation were being overcome by a training on wheels project to bring up-to-date equipment to village centres for courses in computing, word processing and languages.

One researcher also made a study of barriers to women's participation in rural adult education. Although women were much more involved than men in classes, affordable childcare facilities were still needed, private or public transport was often not available to them and fees were given as a common decision for not starting a course.