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The article discusses the need for David Collins, the new Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service to change his outlook and focus on learning and education. Collins book 'A survival guide for College Managers and Leaders' appears to have no mention of teaching and learning.

The cause of lifelong learning is being hampered by educational consultants publishing mistaken views and statistics which are not supported by research. 'Power up your Mind', a book on the subject by Bill Lucas, is used an example to show how sweeping generalisations which are not backed up by evidence are harming the development of lifelong learning.

Issues concerning difficulties of adopting lifelong learning programs in the United Kingdom are discussed. Particular attention is given to the practical obstacles in front of lifelong learning schemes, namely conservative attitudes toward new ideas.

Initiatives by the UK government to encourage lifelong learning take attention away from the structural barriers which stop people learning. Furthermore, such initiatives make individuals responsible for their continued employability. The government is correct to emphasize that there is a need for a culture change in both business and education, but lifelong learning can be regarded as a type of social control. It is being used to mould workers to the increasing demands of employers, who exploit employability to make bouts of unemployment more acceptable.

It is vital that lessons are learned from the decision by Siemens and Fujitsu to shut down their facilities in the north of England. It is clear that raising educational standards will not in itself lead to widespread economic prosperity. Raising skill levels will help to attract new investment, but is not a sufficient condition for such investment to be successful. The UK must have an economic strategy, closely linked with educational and training programmes. Care must be taken not to place too much emphasis on raising skill levels, as this removes the focus from industry.

Hartley Booth's review of the British government's policy on drug abuse in schools is faulty since he is not in touch with current youth culture and does not offer any new method to deal with drug users. He does not explicitly state the stand of the government regarding the growing number of young people using cannabis.