Education and Learning Wales facts for kids
ELWa was an important organization in Wales. It helped manage education and training for young people and adults after they turned 16. ELWa was active from 2000 to 2006. Now, the Welsh Assembly Government handles these responsibilities.
What ELWa Did
ELWa stood for Education and Learning Wales. It was the name used by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales (NCETW). This council was set up by a law called the Learning and Skills Act 2000.
ELWa brought together the jobs of two older groups:
- The training and enterprise councils in Wales.
- The Further Education Funding Council for Wales.
ELWa's main job was to plan and pay for learning for people over 16 in Wales. This included:
- Further education (like colleges).
- Training for jobs (called work-based training).
- Learning for adults in the community.
- Sixth forms in schools.
ELWa did not deal with higher education (like universities). That was handled by another group called the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).
ELWa's main duties were to:
- Make sure there were places and ways for people over 16 to get education and training in Wales.
- Encourage young people and adults to keep learning.
- Encourage businesses to help with and pay for education and training.
Even though ELWa was made of different parts, the Welsh Assembly Government treated it as one organization.
Changes to ELWa
At first, both the NCETW and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) used the ELWa name. They even shared some staff and offices.
In 2002, the Welsh Minister for Education, Jane Davidson, decided to make a change. She wanted each council to have its own full-time leader and finance director. It also became clear that the two councils couldn't legally share staff.
After these changes, only the NCETW continued to use the ELWa name.
Challenges Faced by ELWa
During its time, ELWa faced some challenges. There were concerns about how its money was managed. There were also issues with how it handled risks and how the organization was set up.
