Job Discussion Forums

[slapntickle]

Get a loan to study at university but graduate with less than basic skills:

English universities are failing to develop “quite basic” skills among students, according to a new report commissioned by the government, which says many young people would be better off taking further education (FE) courses than studying for a degree.

The report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommends that some university undergraduates should instead be diverted into FE colleges as the best way of solving chronic skills shortages among school leavers in England.

With one in 10 graduates leaving university still hampered by low levels of maths or literacy ability, the OECD says the money would be better spent in schools and in education for 16- to 19-year-olds tackling poor skill levels.

The report was commissioned by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) after research showed young people in England had lower levels of skills than the previous generation, and below those of Poland and Spain. It argues that further education courses are a cheaper and more effective way of tackling the problem than expensive degree courses.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/28/english-university-students-further-education-oecd-report

Below Poland and Spain. Hmmm . . . . Won't be long before we are below Zimbabwe. Actually according to a recent report, a chunk of our economy is indeed below Zimbabwe's and that chunk is the National Debt.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/chunk-britains-economy-ranked-worse-6548012

Maybe there's a correlation between our university students performing badly in basic skills and lack of money around to invest in education? Just a thought.

[johncoan]

This report comes out at a time when several major companies have announced they're dropping the university-level requirement for new recruits...