Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2001): Education - UK - Training

BRITAIN "IN CRISIS" ON SKILLS AND FILLING JOBS

P. Wintour

Guardian, Jan. 22^nd 2001, p. 10

In order to remedy the skills shortage in the UK, government is calling on firms to show greater commitment to workforce training, and to become more involved in schools and further and higher education.

COMPANIES URGED TO AID VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

J. Kelly

Financial Times, Jan. 25^th 2001, p. 8.

Government has called on companies to become involved in post 14 education reforms, such as vocational GCSEs, by helping frame the curriculum and providing work-based training placements.

PREACHING TO THE UNCONVERTED

J. Kelly

Financial Times, Feb. 15^th 2001, p. 14

Summarises government initiatives to reform work-based training, including portable training, including portable training loans, delivery of training packages via the Internet, expansion of Individual Learning Accounts and expansion of vocational education with skills-based GCSEs, A' levels and foundation degrees.

TEACHERS BLAMED FOR ADULT ILLITERACY

J. O'Leary

Times, Jan. 23rd 2001, p. 10

Reports results of research commissioned by the Basic Skills Agency which show that only one person in eight who attends classes in further education colleges makes enough progress to meet the government's basic literacy targets. Improvements in writing were negligible after 20 weeks tuition. Poorly qualified teachers with ideas rooted in the 1960s were blamed for the failure.