Latest news with #technical colleges
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Time to overhaul a university system that has ceased to serve the country's needs
SIR – The post-school education system of the late 1960s and early 1970s was perfectly suited to the country's needs (' Universities 'putting bums on seats' as high A-level grades rise', report, August 15). Universities were for academic excellence; polytechnics combined the technical and the academic; and technical colleges provided Higher National Diploma courses. The system has since been degraded by the proliferation of universities, leading to many degrees becoming worthless. It needs to change. To declare an interest, I was a polytechnic student in the early 1970s; attached to the poly was a technical college offering courses for trades such as plumbing and bricklaying. Some of the teachers there supplied the technical support for my estate management course. Jonathan Youens Bucharest, Romania SIR – It is now in the interests of schools to encourage students to go to university, as that is effectively how their performance is assessed. Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are given little advice on their options other than: 'Get a degree.' My son, who has just finished his degree, is fortunate to have worked part-time in another field during his studies. He now has a full-time job, unrelated to what he studied. He describes university as an expensive mistake. Britain needs young people to work, to pay tax. That more are not encouraged to start doing this at 16 or 18, rather than several years later after incurring debts in excess of £50,000, is a scandal. Mark Scrimshaw Northwood, Middlesex SIR – This year's A-level results have revealed shocking inequalities. In London, more than 32 per cent were A or above, compared with only 22.9 per cent in the North East. Such disparities extend beyond education. Life expectancy, other health outcomes and transport infrastructure are also poorer in the North East and some other regions. When are these going to be addressed? Dr Robert McKinty Darlington, Co Durham
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The ten technical colleges that will train 40,000 construction workers
The government has unveiled the locations for ten technical colleges across England, which will train 40,000 construction workers as part of its ambitious plan to deliver 1.5 million new homes within the current parliamentary term. The 10 locations are part of the Department for Education's planned £100 million investment in training workers. The initiative aims to enhance the skills of tens of thousands of existing builders, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters, and plumbers by 2029. The plans are in addition to a separate target, announced in March, to train 60,000 construction workers. The Department for Education said the move was part of reducing its reliance on foreign labour. A further 100,000 construction workers will be recruited by the Construction Skills Mission Board each year by the end of the Parliament. The construction technical excellence colleges will be based in: Derby College Group in the East Midlands West Suffolk College in the East of England New City College in Greater London City of Sunderland College in north-east England Wigan and Leigh College in north-west England North Kent College in south-east England Exeter College in south-west England Bedford College, which the government said will be cross-regional Dudley College of Technology in the West Midlands Leeds College of Building, which will cover Yorkshire and the Humber Some are long-standing colleges, but will receive extra funding and support from the government. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'We need skilled workers to deliver the homes, schools and hospitals that communities across the country are crying out for, and today's announcement underlines our commitment to the next generation of homegrown talent. 'Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will enable us to invest in people and give them the skills they need to break down barriers to opportunity.' A recent Government survey found that the percentage of construction firms funding or offering training to their workers has fallen from 57% in 2011 to 49% in 2024. David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: 'Today's announcement is very positive news for people wanting good jobs, for the construction employers looking for skilled people and for the government's ambitions to build 1.5 million new homes. 'It represents significant investment and trust in the 10 successful colleges, and the college sector, recognising their crucial role in boosting the country's construction sector by opening up high quality learning opportunities all over the country.' Tim Balcon, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board, said: 'It's wonderful to see the progress being made towards establishing these technical excellence colleges for construction. 'They represent a transformative opportunity for people to complete local vocational training, helping to drive regional growth and nurture the next generation of skilled construction workers in local communities.' Shadow education minister Saqib Bhatti said: 'We welcome any investment into skills and training for British people, but this pledge rings hollow in the face of Labour's broken promises. 'What young people need are good and secure jobs, but thanks to Labour's jobs tax, jobs are being cut a record rates and unemployment is on the rise. Combined with Labour's cuts to Level 7 apprenticeships, this government is clearly not on the side our next generation. 'Only the Conservatives are on the side of Britain's makers – those who work hard, do the right thing and want to get on, and only we can be trusted to deliver the low tax, pro-growth economy that supports jobs for the future.'
