Labour have vowed to scrap tuition fees "no ifs no buts" as the party confirmed plans to offer every adult six years of free education.
A £3bn-a-year “cradle to grave” National Education Service would include a new right for workers to take paid time off to learn - with a focus on non-degree vocational skills.
Meanwhile university tuition fees would also be scrapped - renewing an £11bn-a-year promise in the 2017 Labour manifesto.
Speaking in Blackpool Jeremy Corbyn repeated the commitment to scrap tuition fees and bring back maintenance grants.
He added: "But that’s just one part of our life-changing plan for real change.
"Because we will invest in a National Education Service – free at the point of use – so everyone can learn at every stage of their lives."
And he hit out at multinational corporations like Amazon and Google , "who rely on a well-educated workforce to make their millions, paying hardly any tax in our country".
The Labour leader said: "I’d rather give a break to the worker who wants to learn than give a tax break to the billionaire who wants for nothing."
Outlining Labour's plan for lifelong learning he said: "The National Education Service will do for education what our NHS does for health."
Labour analysis reveals the number of adults achieving qualifications in basic skills has plummeted since 2011 - with the number currently learning at its lowest point since 1996.
It comes as new figures showed that economic growth has slowed to its lowest rate in almost a decade, underlining the need for a skilled workforce.
Under Labour’s plans, any adult without A-level or equivalent qualification could attend college to study for them for free.
Every adult would also be entitled to six years of study for diplomas and degrees while workers would get the right to paid time off for education and training.
The UK has a severe skills shortage, particularly in higher technical skills, with the CBI claiming two thirds of businesses worry they won’t be able to fill skilled posts.
The Tories have slashed funding for further education and skills training by 47% and overseen a 25% decline in adults enrolling in education.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner told the BBC: "If Labour gets into power on December 13, we will abolish tuition fees, no ifs, no buts. Students at the moment are leaving university with £57,000 worth of debt, that is not sustainable."
She added university vice-chancellors "are paid too much and are unaccountable for that pay, and I'll crack down on that".
Appearing with Ms Rayner at Blackpool Football Club, Jeremy Corbyn said: “I see education like an escalator running alongside you throughout life, that you can get on and off whenever you want.”
