MSP PRAISES MIDLOTHIAN ADULT LEARNING PROGRAMME

Yesterday, Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP Colin Beattie praised the efforts of Midlothian Council and Melville Housing Association on their joint digital kitchen adult learning project. Mr Beattie was speaking at a debate he instigated on adult learning in Scotland.
Run at Newbattle Community Learning Centre, the digital kitchen programme assists low income tenants in the Dalkeith, Mayfield and Easthouses areas to improve their digital skills through cooking. Through developing digital skills, financial capacity, researching and the use of online information, tenants have become more aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and developed social networks to reduce social isolation.
Mr Beattie continued with a brief history of adult learning in this country, including the significant ‘Final report of the Adult Education Committee of the Ministry of Reconstruction’, otherwise known as the 1919 Report, and the current work being carried out by the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.
After the debate Mr Beattie remarked:
‘I was delighted to have the opportunity to highlight the great work done by Midlothian’s lifelong learning and employability service in the crucial field of adult learning.
‘The service saw many key successes in the years from 2015 to 2018 including an increased number of accredited learning opportunities for adults and young people, increased capacity of volunteers delivering adult literacy and numeracy, and an increased number of qualifications secured through lifelong learning and employability programmes.
‘These achievements spoke for themselves in Education Scotland’s 2016-17 inspection report, which led to Midlothian Council’s community learning and development team receiving an overall rating of ‘very good’.
'The digital kitchen itself is a tremendous example of how these schemes can boost confidence and reduce social isolation.
‘I look forward to seeing how the service will progress and develop on these successes in the years to come.’

For the full text of the debate see the link at:
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11906&i=107640