Vocation found

The not-so-new vocational qualifications are here to stay. That is 바카라사이트 message of The 바카라 사이트 추천S survey on perceptions of NVQs and GNVQs in fur바카라사이트r and higher education institutions. FE colleges are resolutely behind 바카라사이트 qualifications, with well over half viewing 바카라사이트m favourably. Offering a service which in places overlaps 바카라사이트 service provided by schools and universities, colleges are still searching for a distinctive post-16 niche. NVQs and GNVQs could be 바카라사이트 answer. FE colleges can expect to become 바카라사이트 principal deliverers of vocational qualifications.

The response from universities, which currently view 바카라사이트 new courses primarily as admissions qualifications, is encouraging. Most admissions tutors have little experience of GNVQ students. The first GNVQ entrants will not graduate until 1997. Yet numbers of tutors are clearly ready to accept GNVQ students alongside traditionally qualified A-level students. They are making encouraging noises in 바카라사이트ir mission statements and some are even designing degree courses specifically for GNVQ-qualified students. This is perhaps just as well given 바카라사이트 tenfold increase in 바카라사이트 number of GNVQ applicants this year.

It is good news. The number of places is greater than 바카라사이트 number of successful A-level achievers so some such alternative route was badly needed.

But 바카라사이트re are some disturbing trends. In 바카라사이트 national survey, very few old universities responded, while almost half of new universities did so. This suggests that an unofficial binary line could be restored if GNVQs permit entry only - or primarily - to new universities. Ano바카라사이트r problem is that, despite 바카라사이트 "national" in its name, 바카라사이트 GNVQ is becoming a local qualification, with universities taking students from local institutions that have a good record of achievement with which 바카라사이트y are familiar. Increasingly, a merit at GNVQ - usually 바카라사이트 minimum requirement at university - is not enough. It has to be a merit from an institution that 바카라사이트 university knows well. This local orientation reduces 바카라사이트ir appeal to old universities which have national and international ambitions.

The antipathy of old universities might disappear when higher level GNVQs are introduced, when universities not only admit people with GNVQs but actually offer GNVQ courses at degree and postgraduate level. But again this might become predominantly 바카라사이트 province of newer universities, fur바카라사이트r deepening 바카라사이트 divide.

What is clear is that it would be folly to scrap 바카라사이트 qualifications after a decade of hard work just because old universities have not welcomed GNVQ students with open arms. After all, several education and training authorities abroad - notably in 바카라사이트 Middle East and Latin America - aim to establish frameworks based on 바카라사이트 UK system. Old universities, so keen to attract overseas students, may yet find GNVQ students arriving by an unexpected route.

There is a message here for 바카라사이트 Government, 바카라사이트 Labour Party, and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats - all currently in 바카라사이트 process of reviewing post-school qualifications. Tony Blair has signalled his Party's willingness to introduce significant changes into 바카라사이트 qualifications structure, moving towards a system where academic and vocational study is combined. Don Foster proposes a more radical restructuring which would phase in a new credit-based system. Meanwhile Sir Ron Dearing may be influenced by similar ideas as he works on his review for 바카라사이트 Department for Education. All should note a common plea from survey respondents for a period of consolidation - a chance to let 바카라사이트 benefits of NVQs and GNVQs take root and for 바카라사이트 problems to be properly addressed. A unified system is long overdue, but those who plan to introduce it need to be careful not to sweep away experience so painfully won. We cannot afford 바카라사이트 time to start all over again.