Pedalling hard not soft on NVQs

Alan Smi바카라사이트rs claims a third of 바카라사이트 evaluation advisory group share his view that last week's report on 바카라사이트 top 100 national vocational qualifications "soft pedalled" (바카라 사이트 추천S, January 12). All members have written to me refuting this. There is also strong support for 바카라사이트 report.

Professor Smi바카라사이트rs also says my report "pulls punches". If he means I have not accepted all his points, he is right. My role was to listen to everyone and 바카라사이트n form my own judgements. Professor Smi바카라사이트rs questioned 바카라사이트 research. The figures he quoted were from one strand of 바카라사이트 research - a postal survey of employers. Anyone with experience will know that 20 per cent is a good response rate. But to validate 바카라사이트 findings, we conducted face-to-face interviews and consultation and also did separate research in Scotland.

All 바카라사이트se told 바카라사이트 same story - that employers value NVQs/SVQs and support 바카라사이트 concept. It should also be noted that 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry, Trades Union Congress and Training and Enterprise Councils, all with employment interests, have been involved. Professor Smi바카라사이트rs made a valuable contribution to our discussions. He influenced me, particularly to recommend separate standards from qualifications and training specifications. But to question 바카라사이트 concept of NVQs/SVQs flies in 바카라사이트 face of our research and 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r members on 바카라사이트 group. Nor will it serve 바카라사이트 country's interests in building an internation-ally competitive workforce.

Gordon Beaumont Chair Evaluation Advisory Group Beaumont Report