The central labor market organizations SAK, STTK and Akava consider the model to be bad, because the emphasis on loans takes away the opportunity for low-wage earners to study.
Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen’s (kok) state secretary Laura Rissanen chaired the working group investigating continuous learning during the working career. Susanna Kekkonen
The government’s decision to abolish adult education support in the summer has been criticized by both opposition parties and wage earners’ and employers’ organizations.
The working group appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in August handed over the final report on Thursday, which contains presentations on how continuous learning can be supported during the working career in the future, even if the adult education support is terminated.
Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (kok) State Secretary Laura Rissanen the final report of the working group led by the Minister of Labor was handed over To Arto Satose (cook). The task of the working group was to prepare proposals on ways to support continuous learning during the working career, improve employment and balance the state economy.
The working group’s presentations received fresh criticism from, among others, employer organizations in the welfare and education sector and labor market central organizations from SAK, Akava and STTK. They left a dissenting opinion in the report.
The goal was to strengthen the skills of people with a weak labor market position and a low level of education.
In addition, the task of the working group was to find out ways in which the benefit brought by the education would cover the costs incurred.
The final report of the working group was handed over to Minister of Labor Arto Satose (Kok). Henri Kärkkäinen
Getting by with a student loan
The responsibility for earning a living during the studies completed during the working career is transferred to individuals and employers more than before.
As one alternative, the working group proposes a state-guaranteed loan that would secure the adult student’s livelihood during the period when the person does not receive a salary. The model could be developed either as part of the study support system or as a completely new model.
The working group’s second proposal is the development of study support to support learning during the working career. This could be implemented, for example, by extending the duration of support for higher education without extending the study time of those studying for a first degree. Another way to consider adult students in the study support would be to raise the annual income limits of the study support.
SAK, Akava and STTK do not support a model based on a study grant or loan. The organizations remind that 75 percent of the recipients of adult education support have been women and worked in low- and medium-paid occupations.
– The proposed models transfer the responsibility for earning a living during studies to individuals and especially weaken the educational opportunities of those in a weaker economic position and increase gender inequality in working life, the organizations point out.
More apprenticeship training
When personnel can no longer train with the support of adult education support during their working career, employers must take more responsibility for developing the skills of their personnel than they do now.
The working group proposes to increase the role of apprenticeship training in developing personnel skills and recruiting new people.
Employers could also make use of joint procurement trainings of employment services or acquire custom training from universities and, in the future, in accordance with the government program, from vocational training providers.
Employer organizations in the welfare and education sector do not accept the proposal that the employer’s costs for degree training would be increased, and according to them, it is not economically realistic in many respects.
The working group also proposes reforming the study leave law so that it better takes into account the changed operating environment. Employers and employees are encouraged to mutually agree on paid study leave.
Higher education institutions should consider working-age people
Education organizers and higher education institutions must take into account, especially in the implementation of training aimed at working-age people, that it is possible to complete them while working.
The working group suggests increasing the offer of smaller study units and making use of them. The social and health sector in particular has benefited from adult education, so higher education and vocational training in the sector would be developed in accordance with government program records as part of the Good Work program.
For those who need targeting
The working group suggests that training should be targeted by increasing funding to various groups underrepresented in education, such as those who rely only on primary school or weak basic skills, or those who are otherwise in a weak labor market position.
Vocational education and higher education guidance would be developed in such a way that adult degree education is directed especially to education that raises the level of education or improves the labor market position, and support and guidance during education is increased.
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