The
Government is to unveil new plans for a successor to the controversial
Individual Learning Account Scheme (ILA) in June this year.
John
Harwood, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council, revealed the plans
during an online question and answer session on the council’s website.
He
explained the Government was still committed to the "original vision and
purpose" of ILAs and said individuals should have more power to choose
what they want to learn.
Ministers
now plan to launch proposals for a replacement scheme as part of the skills
strategy and delivery plan in June.
The
ILA programme was suspended by the then Education and Skills Secretary, Estelle
Morris on 7 December 2001, amid concerns that some learning providers were
abusing the scheme.