Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
May: It’s back tech the future
PM Brexit plan to boost technology training for school leavers
SCHOOL leavers are facing a massive overhaul in technical training as part of Theresa May’s Brexit plans.
The 20,000 courses and bewildering array of vocational qualifications currently on offer will be slashed to just 15.
The 50 per cent of youngsters who do not go to university will be able to study for them at 12 new regional supertech colleges.
Tomorrow Mrs May will announce an extra £170million to fund her institutes of technology.
It is part of the PM’s new strategy to beef up skills to help post-Brexit Britain compete in the world.
She said yesterday: “Our action will help ensure young people develop the skills they need to do highpaid, high-skilled jobs of the future. That means boosting technical education and ensuring we extend the same opportunity and respect we give university graduates.” Business Secretary Greg Clark added: “For too long technical education for school leavers has been neglected.”
Tech students will all need to master English, maths and digital skills as part of their specialisms. Courses on offer will include farming and animal care, business admin, catering, childcare, building and design.
There will also be training in engineering, hairdressing, marketing and social care.
And new free schools specialising in maths for sixth formers will also be opened.
They will be based on the model pioneered by King’s College London Mathematics School.
Last year all its students received A stars or As in their maths A levels, making it one of the best-performing state schools in the country.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Britain’s economy has underperformed for decades because we lack a proper industrial strategy. So it’s very welcome that there is now support from across the political spectrum to develop one.”
James Sproule of the Institute of Directors added: “As more jobs are taken on by robots and our population ages, it’s vital we think seriously about the future of skills and training.”