Diploma 'disaster' warning from academics
Academics fire diploma warning
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Friday, 06, Jun 2008 10:10
The new diploma qualification set to eventually replace A-levels could be a "disaster", according to two academics.
Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson of the University of Buckingham have voiced doubts about plans for the new qualification, which is due to be introduced by nearly three-quarters of schools and the vast majority of colleges this September.
They are the government's first step on the road to replacing GCSEs and A-levels with the preferred combination of practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
"There is no doubt that vocational education is a mess and A-levels are not doing their job properly, but the solution is not to overturn everything," the academics said.
"It is to sort out the difficulties by improving A-levels and putting in place good routes from school to work. This would be simpler, sounder and have a much greater chance of success than throwing everything into the melting pot.
"The original plan was to let employers devise 14 vocational diplomas to meet their needs, but this has morphed into a qualification, the diploma, to be all things to all people."
Schools minister Jim Knight rejected their view as "one-sided carping".