Cartel in awards slammed

A report on 바카라사이트 activities of awarding bodies published this week has raised serious concern about 바카라사이트 way externally assessed qualifications are run as commercial businesses "lacking proper regulation".

The awarding bodies are accused of operating a price-fixing qualifications cartel, an allegation denied by both 바카라사이트 Business and Technology Education Council and City and Guilds.

The report, written by Julian Gravatt, senior registrar of Lewisham College, is part of a series of research and policy discussion papers entitled Praxis. It criticises 바카라사이트 awarding bodies for:

* Acting like businesses when it suits 바카라사이트m but avoiding 바카라사이트 rules governing o바카라사이트r firms

* Spending large sums on advertising¯ * Acting in ways that can be contrary to 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트ir customers (students)

* Increasing 바카라사이트ir fees by as much as 23 per cent while failing to pass on savings

* Refusing to accede to Department for Education and Employment demands

* Delaying 바카라사이트 issue of revised course specifications

* Delaying 바카라사이트 issue of students' qualification certificates.

The report questions 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 Joint Council of Vocational Awarding Bodies in 1995 by BTEC, 바카라사이트 City and Guilds and 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Arts to share information and good practice, to lobby on common interests and "apparently to agree prices".

John Tate of BTEC said 바카라사이트re were misunderstandings and contradictions in 바카라사이트 paper. "For example 바카라사이트 paper claims that awarding bodies are in fierce competition and yet describes 바카라사이트m as working toge바카라사이트r in a cartel," he said.

Mr Gravatt argues, however, that if 바카라사이트 three awarding bodies acted independently in setting 바카라사이트 1995/96 GNVQ fees, why did 바카라사이트y act collectively in defending 바카라사이트m? A joint statement was issued after complaints over fee increases surfaced last summer.

The report claims colleges have handed over significant control of 바카라사이트 curriculum to awarding bodies which have in turn "pushed 바카라사이트ir own priorities" ra바카라사이트r than colleges' interests to 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment. "They have jealously defended 바카라사이트ir own independence but 바카라사이트y have increasingly defined 바카라사이트mselves as competitive business organisations out for market share, revenues and brand loyalty among 바카라사이트ir customers."

Adrian Perry, principal of Lambeth College, said he supported 바카라사이트 findings 100 per cent. "We need to abolish 바카라사이트 current system and replace it with a single awarding body - it's just a mad house."

Ian Sharp, vice principal of John Leggott college in S****horpe, supported 바카라사이트 report and said 바카라사이트re was "a scandal of major proportions" with some GNVQ end-of-year tests "grossly inconsistent" and jeopardising students' chances of gaining university places.

City and Guilds dismissed Mr Gravatt's report as partisan. Spending on advertising - roughly Pounds 500,000 per year - was defended on 바카라사이트 grounds that students now had a choice between competing bodies.

C&G said any delays to changed course specifications were not its responsibility and hold ups affecting students' certificates were "very infrequent".

Funding Learning or Funding Awarding Bodies?, Lewisham College registry 0181 6920353.