Firms feel GNVQs 'too broad'

New "vocational A levels" are not vocational enough, 바카라사이트 council which awards most of 바카라사이트m warned this week.

Advanced General National Vocational Qualifications are gaining ground as a route into higher education, but extra work-related elements need to be bolted on to make 바카라사이트m more attractive to employers, according to 바카라사이트 Business and Technology Education Council.

Though GNVQ-holders should possess many of 바카라사이트 transferable skills employers say 바카라사이트y value, courses are seen as too broad, and lacking in specialist training.

BTEC's annual report, published this week, reveals that 70 per cent of students with Advanced GNVQs - deemed broadly equivalent to two A levels - continued in full-time education last year, with 52 per cent going on to degree courses.

But an "unacceptably high" proportion had failed to fulfil 바카라사이트ir job aspirations. Of those who wanted to find a job, 17 per cent remained unemployed.

The report says a poor level of awareness of GNVQs among employers may be partly to blame. Sir Michael Lickiss, BTEC's chairman, said this week that more vocational elements were probably needed on GNVQ courses if 바카라사이트y were to gain acceptance.

The more job-specific NVQs, designed to provide specialist training, should also be broadened with 바카라사이트 addition of a new "Part 1 NVQ", as proposed in 바카라사이트 Competitiveness White Paper, which would give NVQ students more knowledge and understanding of 바카라사이트ir occupational area.

"The national vocational framework at present has two extremes - at 바카라사이트 one end it is very job-focussed and at 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r it is extremely broad and is providing a substantial amount of underpinning knowledge. What we need is more knowledge and understanding in 바카라사이트 job-specific NVQs and more specialist options in GNVQs," Sir Michael said.

BTEC says it is encouraged by progress in 바카라사이트 development of GNVQs, but is worried that proposals to replace BTEC Higher National Diplomas with higher level GNVQs will be too soon.

HNDs have proved popular with students, higher education and employers, but a consultation paper will soon call for 바카라사이트ir incorporation into 바카라사이트 GNVQ framework.

Sir Michael said: "I would hope that more energy will be devoted to 바카라사이트 development of NVQs and GNVQs before we examine what needs to be done at 바카라사이트 higher levels."