Instead, the emphasis has been on the FE community. And they have tried. Colleges across the country have provided substantial inputs of people and time to help the initiative grow. But cracks are beginning to show. But the problems with funding in the past, whether it be the FEFC or vocational tax relief, both now on the way out, were not just quantity, but the difficulty of understanding the rules.
Distance learning needs more money.
But it also need clear, sensible and transparent funding arrangements. ILAs promise some progress towards funding distance learning. But parity of treatment between it and traditional teaching may still be a long way off. The Bill also emphasises the local dimension of the new initiatives, providing a local focus and sense of ownership for learning. But distance learning isn't local.