THE number of people who want to learn has increased. Early results from the second Learning Trends Survey show Guernsey has surpassed the UK in the number of 28- to 40-year-olds intending to continue their education.

The survey will assist in forming future education policy and will also affect the anti-poverty strategy.

‘We are delighted with the findings of the latest survey,’ said Deputy Wendy Morgan, the Education Department’s Lifelong Learning Advisory Group chairman.

‘The number of people who want to participate in learning has increased sufficiently. Significantly, out of the number of level-two learners – which is the equivalent of a GCSE – many are determined to improve on that level.’

She said there had been a big campaign to promote the benefits of learning.

‘We’ve still got a huge amount to do.

‘We know we’ve got a numeracy and literacy problem in the island,’ said Deputy Morgan, who praised the work of the bodies involved in promoting continued learning.

The survey found that more than 45% of locally-educated 28- to 40-year-olds intended to continue to learn, compared with 41% in the UK.

This figure is an increase of 10% on 2001 and shows islanders are beginning to realise the value of continuing their education after school, she said.

‘We want people to go on learning until they can learn no more.’

Among new initiatives to promote learning, the department is hoping to set up a walk-in centre for skills education for people who do not want to go into a formal environment.

‘It’s going to be very significant in contributing to anti-poverty plans and policies.’

The Education Department’s lifelong learning manager Alun Williams said that the island could not afford to be complacent.

‘We are competing on a global stage, so we must strive to continue to increase our participation rates,’ he said.

The findings of the anti-poverty survey demonstrated that committing to learning was a key determinant in people’s life choice.

He said that any new professions were likely to be in the higher-education bracket and that this standard would be achieved only if people aspired to learn.

‘Those who are not involved in learning are more likely to earn less, be vulnerable to unemployment and are more likely to be on the margins of society,’ said Mr Williams.

The survey divided people’s qualifications into four levels, from having had none to higher education.

About 400 Guernsey-educated local residents were questioned.

‘The figures from this year’s survey reiterate the connection between current earnings and the age the respondent left school and also the level of qualifications they have achieved,’ said Deputy Morgan.

Figures show that around 60% of those earning more than £31,000 a year have the highest level in qualifications.

Guernsey Training Agency chief executive Professor Richard Conder welcomed the findings and said that everyone had worked hard at creating a ‘learning culture’.

‘The significant growth in aspiration to learn shows that these efforts are beginning to reap benefits.’

More than half the respondents had attended a College of Further Education course and 83% had Internet access in their home, which was a significant growth.

‘It reinforces how we use that and we also have to think about the 17% who do not have access,’ said Mr Williams.