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Most precious commodity: time as a barrier and enabler

Time works much more as a barrier than an enabler.

People often feel that they don't have enough time to fit learning into their lives. Going to work, caring for children or older relatives and being involved in other activities all takes up a huge chunk of time on a weekly basis, and so some people find the idea of allocating time to learning an impossibility.

For those in work, having supportive employers is essential if they are to embark on some learning which fits into their working pattern. This is especially important for those working in shifts - if people are working different hours each week it is very difficult for them to commit to a course. Without the support of their employer, people can be put into a very difficult position, as of course they still need an income regardless of whether or not they are pursuing learning:

"...when they start to put an ultimatum, it's either your job or college, you can't have both."

Many people have said that they would be more likely to do some learning if they got time off and support from their employers, but this is not always possible.

The scheduling of courses can also be an issue. Different people have different needs, which reflect the things they're involved with on a day-to-day basis such as taking children to and from school, working hours and commitments to other things like community groups.

For some people, finding the time to engage in learning is not a problem. In particular, those in retirement can have ample time to take part in learning, and view this period of their lives as a great opportunity to expand and develop their knowledge and skills.

The majority of people want learning to be flexible so that it can fit into their busy lives. Whether this means extended opening hours at learning centres, weekend classes or an increase in rolling programmes where learners can "roll on and roll off" whenever they want, people want to be able to learn at a time that suits them.

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