A rather disturbing news item in yesterday's 'observer' entitled 'One million pupils failed.......' regarding the fact that in the last ten years a million pupils have failed to register even the lowest grade in 5 GCSEs. Coming on the back of announcements that people are unlikely to find jobs unless they have the basic 5 GCSEs this is very worrying economic cost.
Despite the spending of vast sums to educate and away from the headlines of the rising passes there is a growing underclass of human capital despite the fact that we are one of the supposed advanced nations on earth and that its the 21st Century..........
I have from time to time raised the issue of qualifications and the burden put on organisations which effectively means an extra tax. But this is deeper. Something is fundamentally wrong. Those that know their social economics will also know the trouble that is being stored up. I would like to know the actual breakdown of this one million figure to provide more insight.
Though focus will inevitably fall on the education profession there remans some very harsh questions around the parenting of children allowed to just simply drift out of the system.
There used to be an argument that provided an excuse in terms of the subject range was too narrow. Well - that one has been well and truly found wanting given the subjects covered, never mind the constant debate on actual standards.
At some point, we're going to have to bite the bullet and introduce special education bootcamps. It may not be to everybody's liking but if this stopped the 'non-achievement' then it's a start. But other social policies will also have to be looked at to see as to how much this is contributing to non-achievement. Social support can only go so far.
Just think we are talking here of harnessing collective human capital the size of the NHS. Staggering.........
