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Have any other readers encountered the massive failings within the Modern Apprenticeship and NVQ systems?
Five years ago we sought an initial intake of six apprentices. The idea was to select an individual at each of our branches and set them up for a four-year Modern Apprenticeship based through their local Tec, ideally each doing the same units.
Because the company set a minimum standard of education for those we wished to interview, I was accused of selecting the best rather than interview personnel they already had on their books. Yes, I stand guilty as accused of wishing to choose someone who had the aptitude to stay the course, in return for full training both inside and outside the apprenticeship set-up.
One year into the apprenticeship I found that colleges and training centres had withheld the registration of some apprentices and kept others waiting, to see how many dropped out from the scheme, thus saving the registration fee. I was dumbfounded that this could happen without an employer’s knowledge. I asked each Tec to rectify this situation, but progress was slow.
The problems compound further when sending the apprentices to college. I asked one college for information on an apprentice’s progress and attendance there and was told that the individual’s agreement had to be sought under the Data Protection Act. Surely not? As the employer pays for an individual to go to college during working hours, surely this allows the company the right to relevant information?
I have also found inconsistencies in the NVQ units, which are “national” in title only, not in interpreting standards nor in the competence of the assessors. One apprentice lost a whole year’s work because the assessor had not met the required standard and to transfer the apprentice to another college would warrant all the work being carried out again.
Throughout this time we have continued to recruit and will remain on track as LGH supplements the apprentice training with its own internal courses. My colleagues and I even took the D32/33 assessors’ course in order to understand the vagaries of the NVQ system. Yet no one has ever sought our opinions or seconded us on to working groups that map out this type of scheme.
A Longmire, Technical dire
