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Vocational training shake-up 'most ambitious since A-levels' | Vocational training shake-up 'most ambitious since A-levels' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Vocational and technical education in England is to get an extra £500m a year in a bid to train more skilled workers and boost the economy. | Vocational and technical education in England is to get an extra £500m a year in a bid to train more skilled workers and boost the economy. |
The plans, to be set out in the Budget, also include replacing 13,000 existing qualifications with 15 "routes" linked to the needs of employers. | |
Students in further education or at a technical college will also be eligible for maintenance loans. | Students in further education or at a technical college will also be eligible for maintenance loans. |
The new courses are expected to start from the 2019/20 academic year. | The new courses are expected to start from the 2019/20 academic year. |
The government is calling the plans the most ambitious education reform since the introduction of A-levels 70 years ago. | The government is calling the plans the most ambitious education reform since the introduction of A-levels 70 years ago. |
'Need to be self-sufficient' | 'Need to be self-sufficient' |
The funding will increase the amount of training for 16 to 19-year-olds' by 50%, to 900 hours a year. | The funding will increase the amount of training for 16 to 19-year-olds' by 50%, to 900 hours a year. |
A government spokesman said the move was part of its plan to tackle weaknesses in the UK's productivity levels, and so improve living standards. | A government spokesman said the move was part of its plan to tackle weaknesses in the UK's productivity levels, and so improve living standards. |
Chancellor Philip Hammond told The Andrew Marr Show that skills are one of the big issues the government needs to address. | |
He said the UK needs to do significantly more in training and upskilling young people to prepare the economy for a post-Brexit future. | |
He wants there to be a "genuine parity of esteem" between the academic and technical routes to employment. | |
Mr Hammond said: "What we need to do in this country that others - the US, Germany - have done years ago, is create a technical route which is as rigorous, as clear in the qualifications that are achieved and as well understood as young people and employers as the academic route is." | |
Under the plans, thousands of qualifications will be replaced by 15 training routes specific to different industries from finance and accounting to engineering and manufacturing. | |
Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes said the announcement would make a significant and positive difference, saying technical skills and education had been overlooked for too long. | Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes said the announcement would make a significant and positive difference, saying technical skills and education had been overlooked for too long. |
He said: "Post-Brexit Britain will need more self-sufficiency in developing skills and people will need the confidence, support and opportunities to adapt and change over 50-plus year careers." | He said: "Post-Brexit Britain will need more self-sufficiency in developing skills and people will need the confidence, support and opportunities to adapt and change over 50-plus year careers." |
The policy on vocational qualifications comes after a review of technical education carried out by Lord Sainsbury last year. | The policy on vocational qualifications comes after a review of technical education carried out by Lord Sainsbury last year. |
He said: "Targeted investment of this type makes economic sense - our international competitors recognised long ago that investing in technical education is essential to enhancing national productivity. | He said: "Targeted investment of this type makes economic sense - our international competitors recognised long ago that investing in technical education is essential to enhancing national productivity. |
"But it is also essential if we are to equip people with the knowledge and skills they need to obtain rewarding and skilled employment in the future." | "But it is also essential if we are to equip people with the knowledge and skills they need to obtain rewarding and skilled employment in the future." |
Analysis: Sean Coughlan, education correspondent | Analysis: Sean Coughlan, education correspondent |
With Brexit looming, there is even more urgency for industry to have enough home-grown talent in the workplace. | With Brexit looming, there is even more urgency for industry to have enough home-grown talent in the workplace. |
Vocational skills and technical education have been longstanding weaknesses in England's education system. | Vocational skills and technical education have been longstanding weaknesses in England's education system. |
Employers have called for more attention on worsening skills shortages rather than getting more young people into university. | Employers have called for more attention on worsening skills shortages rather than getting more young people into university. |
This £500m will be a boost for raising the quality and status of workplace skills. | This £500m will be a boost for raising the quality and status of workplace skills. |
But school leaders have been complaining vociferously about a deepening funding crisis for basic running costs. | But school leaders have been complaining vociferously about a deepening funding crisis for basic running costs. |
And this cash announcement will have head teachers wondering if they're next in line for a Budget day extra helping. | And this cash announcement will have head teachers wondering if they're next in line for a Budget day extra helping. |