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I think there is an argument for higher education, in that doing a degree in History, Philosophy or the Arts has intrinsic value or 'learning for its own sake' is an accepted pursuit.
However, 'vocational education and training' offers a different proposition.
If we take the word vocational as meaning a career choice, then there is the implicit assumption that vocational education leads to a job in a particular field such as medicine or plumbing.
I would strongly argue that there are now few instances of adults doing plumbing courses for their own sake, compared to those doing courses with some intention of doing the job.
If we now introduce the government rhetoric of 'skills training' and providing people with the skills employers want, there is an explicit implication that the courses lead into industry or provide the first steps in a process.
The consequences of the 'over-ambitious' claims by training providers and government, is that people are now 'brain-washed' into thinking they need a course to become something - all part of the marketisation of education and training.
Courses are sold and people are left with debt, no job and the frustration of looking for work in field that is 'probably' over-supplied, but we don't know the numbers. In addition, people lose confidence in their knowledge, because they have not practised it yet, and probably just give up. Or tech-cert students are faced to 'set-up' and incurr more cost when going self-employed - which benefits the wider economy because self employed people generate business (at their own expense).
Numbers are massively important, thats why they are kept secret. I don't think many would be shelling out £thousands for courses or chosing a career in plumbing if they knew there was little chance of finding a job. I can't believe the 48,000 who turned up for a tech-cert in 2008 were doing it because they loved the subject and wanted to learn it for its own sake.
However, 'vocational education and training' offers a different proposition.
If we take the word vocational as meaning a career choice, then there is the implicit assumption that vocational education leads to a job in a particular field such as medicine or plumbing.
I would strongly argue that there are now few instances of adults doing plumbing courses for their own sake, compared to those doing courses with some intention of doing the job.
If we now introduce the government rhetoric of 'skills training' and providing people with the skills employers want, there is an explicit implication that the courses lead into industry or provide the first steps in a process.
The consequences of the 'over-ambitious' claims by training providers and government, is that people are now 'brain-washed' into thinking they need a course to become something - all part of the marketisation of education and training.
Courses are sold and people are left with debt, no job and the frustration of looking for work in field that is 'probably' over-supplied, but we don't know the numbers. In addition, people lose confidence in their knowledge, because they have not practised it yet, and probably just give up. Or tech-cert students are faced to 'set-up' and incurr more cost when going self-employed - which benefits the wider economy because self employed people generate business (at their own expense).
Numbers are massively important, thats why they are kept secret. I don't think many would be shelling out £thousands for courses or chosing a career in plumbing if they knew there was little chance of finding a job. I can't believe the 48,000 who turned up for a tech-cert in 2008 were doing it because they loved the subject and wanted to learn it for its own sake.