More learners than ever in Further Education are participating in longer, "high priority" courses, including literacy and numeracy, full Level 2 and Level 3, according to government figures.

A Statistical First Release on learner enrolments for 2006/07 shows more adults than ever undertaking courses in basic and Level 2 skills.

The figures relate solely to publicly funded programmes the government says that further research will show that in 2006/07 an additional 90,000 learners are taking self-funded courses.

The research shows:

Welcoming the figures Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell said: “The increases in adult full Level 2 provision (GCSE equivalent) and the fact that we have reached our interim target of 1 million adults achieving their first full Level 2 qualification is good news for the economy and the country.”