Evaluation of Individual Learning Accounts: Final Report
Learner contributions to course costs
3.35 Over three-fifths (63%) of redeemers said that they had contributed less than 50 towards the costs of their ILA-supported learning. This figure includes the 10% of redeemers contacted who said that they had made no financial contribution at all ( Figure 3.14). These figures were not in keeping with the 'spirit' of ILAs and the intention that the individual learner would make some form of financial contribution towards the costs of their learning.
3.36 When compared with the Spring 2001 ILA survey in Scotland, the above figures show a slight (3%) increase in the proportion of people who had paid nothing towards their ILA-supported learning. They also show a slight decrease (6%) in the number who were contributing 100 or more towards their course costs.
3.37 A higher proportion of the unemployed (19%) said that they had made no contribution towards their course costs whilst a higher proportion of those with degree level qualifications (11%) had contributed 500 or more towards the costs of their ILA-supported learning.
Other people making a financial contribution towards ILA-supported learning
3.38 Figure 3.15 demonstrates that 11% of redeemers said that they had received a contribution towards the costs of their ILA-supported learning from another source.
3.39 Where other contributions had been made, almost three-quarters (73%) had come from an employer. Those more likely to say that they had received such a contribution were women (78% compared to 67% of men), 18-30 year olds and 31-50 year olds (75% each) compared to those aged 51 or above (60%).
Redeemers' understanding of ILAs
3.40 Redeemers were asked a series of questions to gauge their understanding of ILAs. The first was:
- "Did you know that you were using a Government-funded ILA when you enrolled on your first ILA-supported course?"
3.41 This was followed by a series of statements which required a 'True' or 'False' response:
- "My ILA could have given me a discount on a variety of courses;"
- "My ILA could only have given me a discount on the course I was taking;"
- "My ILA could only give me discounts on courses offered by the provider I was on courses with;"
- "My ILA could have given me discounts on courses with a variety of providers:"
- "ILAs were only available to particular groups of people."
"Did you know that you were using a Government funded ILA when you enrolled on your first ILA-supported course?"
3.42 We asked redeemers if they knew that they were using an ILA when they enrolled onto their first ILA-supported course. As can be seen from Figure 3.16 one in ten were not aware of the fact. This is a more encouraging response than the England survey, undertaken in Autumn 2001, where one-third of redeemers had not known.
3.43 A higher proportion of those in the 18-30 age group (15%), and those contributing 50 or more towards their course costs (14%), did not know that they were using an ILA when they enrolled on their first ILA-supported course.
Responses to 'True or False' questions
3.44 The interviewers then read out a series of 'True or False' statements to which redeemers were invited to respond. In their responses to all of these questions, people aged 51 or above tended to have less understanding of how their ILA could have been used. Equally, there was confusion among those with no prior qualifications and those making no financial contribution towards their ILA-supported learning. Overall, the responses were broadly similar to those which emerged from the Autumn 2001 ILA survey in England.
"My ILA could have given me a discount on a variety of courses"
3.45 The majority of respondents felt that this statement was 'True' (see Figure 3.17). A slightly higher proportion of redeemers aged 51 or above (16%), those who were not economically active (20%), and those not making any contribution towards their course costs (20%) thought that this statement was 'False' or did not know.
"My ILA could only have given me a discount on the course I am/was taking"
3.46 A little over one-fifth of redeemers felt that this statement was 'True' or did not know. Higher proportions of redeemers with no previous qualifications (32%), the unemployed (27%) those who had not undertaken any learning in the past twelve months (29%), those in education/training (33%), and people who had not made any financial contribution towards their course costs (41%) mistakenly thought this statement was 'True' or did not know. This may indicate that their provider had not fully explained ILAs but had simply indicate that it was a course discount. This connects to responses to the next question.
"My ILA could only have given me discounts on courses offered by the provider I was on courses with"
3.47 A little over two-fifths of redeemers did not realise that they could have used their ILA to help fund courses with other learning providers. This was particularly the case for those aged 51 or above (54%), redeemers with no prior qualifications (50%), those who were not making a personal financial contribution towards their course costs (55%) and those who were not economically active.
"My ILA could have given me discounts on courses with a variety of providers"
3.48 Responses to this question indicated a lower level of confusion (Figure 3.2). This also contradicts some of the responses given to the previous question. For example, 21% of respondents felt that the statement was 'False' or did not know. Higher levels of confusion were evident amongst redeemers aged 51 or above (27%); those in social class DE (28%); those with no prior qualifications (28%); those who had not participated in any previous learning during the past 12 months (27%); those who were not economically active (27%) and those who had not made any financial contribution towards their ILA-supported learning (36%
"ILAs were only available to particular groups of people"
3.49 Generally, ILAs were available to all those aged 18 or above. There is therefore no 'right' or 'wrong' response to this statement. However, it was useful to gauge redeemers' understanding of the 'universal' nature of ILAs. Figure 3.21). A higher proportion of those in education/training (24%) and those who were unemployed (21%) felt that ILAs had only been available to particular groups of people. In the ILA surveys undertaken in other UK countries, a follow-up question was asked to identify the groups people thought were eligible - in many cases, these were in line with key target groups such as those with no qualifications.
