University isn’t the only path to success
VOCATIONAL education in this country should be held in higher esteem. that this Government has promoted apprenticeships under the auspices of ‘learning by doing’ has been widely welcomed. But more courses need to be made available, with the added overhaul of the national Vocational Qualifications (NVQS). as an alternative pathway, NVQS are great for people who decide not to go down the a-level route and who want to go straight into the workplace. But there are two issues with this qualification. First, it needs to be held in higher esteem by employers, students and society at large. Many gifted and intelligent people possess NVQS, Btecs and GNVQS. the richness of any nation’s education system should be the diversity of courses its educational establishments provide. in theory, NVQS go up to level eight, equivalent to a PhD or postgraduate level, but no one ever regards them as such. second, school students who see themselves as non-academic or don’t wish to be looked on as such shouldn’t think anything less of themselves in taking the established vocational pathway. not everyone should feel that they need to go to university — and not everyone can go, of course. Vocational qualifications can be a great way for a potential employee to present on paper particular skills they can offer to their industry. Vocational qualifications should be given the academic respect they deserve. For some people, this form of education offers them the only way to get qualified. i’d like to see a merging of academic and vocational qualifications with the re-introduction of the advanced Vocational certificate of education. this was, like Btecs, an alternative pathway into university and i think it had the necessary rigour to test the abilities of students who may eventually want to go on to university. Meanwhile, there should be more available for adult learners over the age of 25 who want to re-skill themselves and get into another profession.
OLIVER B. STEWARD, Norwich.