From education to employment

Through the looking glass

What a pity Lewis Carroll isn’t alive today. The whole new world of crazy inconsistencies already beginning to come out of this government would have provided him with a rich source of material – although I’m sure he would have found the present reality even stranger than fiction. We are, apparently short of money – everyone says so from “The Times” to the “The Mirror” so it must be true and yet in the education system we are beginning to invent a whole new army of institutions that will cost a small fortune and in the eyes of most thinking professionals do more harm than good.

To the best of my knowledge, neither Michael Gove nor Nick Gibb have a drink problem but the idea that the issues identified in our schools system could be solved by creating free schools, studio schools or even university technical colleges seems reminiscent of the solutions that are invented in pubs up and down the land every evening. They seem great after a night on the sauce but in the cold and clear light of day they are seen for what they are – trivial and irrelevant. Unfortunately as yet in the DFE there is no sign of any sobering up.

We are, however, fortunate in this country to have one sector of education that over the last twenty years has consistently delivered both improvements in quality and increases in efficiency. It caters for the most educationally needy and the socially deprived as well as some of the brightest individuals of every generation. It covers vocational training and academic subjects. It offers courses from pre level 1 to degree level. It is a model of comprehensive education of which we can all be proud. And compared to the university and the schools sectors, it is remarkably cheap. Michael Gove has probably heard of it – but you wouldn’t think so if you read his speeches. It is called the college sector.

Wonderful facilities in many cases in brand new buildings paid for by the last government, staff with industrial experience and teaching expertise, and an innovative and creative approach to whatever challenge is put in its way. You would think that the Secretary of State with his new interest in vocational education would be rejoicing in what he has inherited. A simple legislative change to allow colleges to admit students at 14 and without the need for any new structures or inventions (none of which could possibly be afforded on a national basis) and a new era is born – Vocationally relevant opportunities for all from 14 onwards.

Or what about the looming dilemma in Higher Education? Is it absolutely necessary for someone to live 200 miles from home for three years of six hours of study a week and extensive “socialising” to grow up? Is it really ideal for someone to begin their working life with a mountain of debt? There are many colleges that can provide better teaching, more relevant high level vocational study, work experience and, if allowed, a degree after two years full time study or somewhat longer part time. And what’s more they can do it at less than half the cost in tuition fees without the need for the student to move away from home. Why not let the universities concentrate on what they really want to do – research (apparently in some cases less than 20% of their budgets are actually spent on teaching undergraduates) and set the colleges free under a new Council for National Academic Awards or the equivalent to give the country what it really wants – high level vocational skills at a price it can afford. That of course is down to BIS and Mr Willetts but maybe the two departments could consider getting together for some joined up thinking on our education and training system? Or is that too much to ask?

In a world thankfully devoid of mad hatters and red queens, sometimes a crisis like the present one can lead to a rethink of the ways in which we do things and offer us new and exciting futures. But that means looking at the resources that we have got and making the best use of them. We don’t need new institutions. We need a realignment of the resources that we have got – and if we want to be efficient and effective that means more money for further education and (unfortunately) less for schools with small sixth forms and universities with esoteric departments. Let’s not let the excitement of having a new idea get in the way of logic and common sense.

James Ebury is a former college principal


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