Concessionary Fees For Older Learners Justified

The government has finally responded to concern that fee concessions for older adult learners may be unlawful as a result of the Age Regulations.

Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, in a statement to the house this week, pointed out that it was never the intention of the Government to see a reduction in provision for older learners as a result of the regulations. He said that although it is now unlawful to discriminate against someone on grounds of age in vocational training (which includes all further and higher education), the Age Regulations do permit “objective justification” of discrimination in specific circumstances.