Vocational training as important as academic

THANKS be... Boris Johnson has now recognised that the gulf between ‘academic’ and ‘vocational’ training must end.

Of course, the Labour spokesman has immediately come up with the usual comment that nothing has been done in the last 10 years, completely overlooking that the situation largely arises because of Tony Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ speech and the subsequent dramatic increase in university places.

The result is that anyone who gains a few GCSE passes goes on to college, ‘A’ levels and university, where they often find their degree does not help them to find employment, certainly not a longterm career.

One young woman I know gained a PhD at Cambridge and took up employment carrying out research into causes and possible cures of cancer, which gained her some three years of employment at rather less than the average wage at the time.

She then considered three careers: bakery in store with major supermarket; sales for a high street chemist; or driving a London underground train. All paying substantially more than the average wage.

Happily the IT skills acquired in the course of her academic training enabled her to find well-paid work.

Not untypical, even for graduates with good degrees.

Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher’s government caused a major recession in the building trade, causing many skilled tradesmen to find other employment, meaning there were few skilled men to train apprentices and the shortfall had to be filled by East European tradesmen.

The shortage was and is compounded by people achieving GCSEs being encouraged to go on for academic qualifications, leaving only those without GCSEs to take on work as a plumber or carpenter, kitchen fitter, etc. Would you like your house fitted with a kitchen by a person lacking in numeracy and literacy skills? I think not!