This month’s news
Prepare for the TD2001 Awards race
Following on from the success of the TD2000 awards, Training magazine is preparing
to launch the TD2001 scheme.
The awards will be sponsored by Raytheon Professional Services and builds on
the enthusiasm and commitment shown by readers to the TD200O event. "Ever
since the TD2000 awards were announced, the magazine has been inundated with
enquiries from readers about how to enter the TD2001 scheme," said Editor
of Training Stephanie Sparrow.
"We are delighted to be running these awards again so that we can once
more highlight the dedication of training professionals."
The TD2000 award was won by the Halifax-based Provident Insurance with
judges placing Barclay’s Bank Small Business Banking and restaurant chain TGI
Friday’s as runners-up.
Details of how to enter will appear in the January 2001 edition of Training.
Nacett warns on low standards
Advisory body Nacett has thrown down the gauntlet to the incoming Learning
and Skills Council to set more ambitious National Learning Targets.
Although England is on course to acheive the majority of the targets for
2002, the Government and the LSC should aim higher thereafter to bring England
to at least equalling the best nations by 2010, its says.
"Although standards are rising, England has serious weaknesses in the level
of qualifications held by its workforce, and in a world economy built on
knowledge-based industries these weaknesses are a major handicap," said
Nacett chairman Derek Wanless at the launch of its final published report
earlier this month.
Nacett, which hands over its role to the new LSC from 2001, says that among
highest achievers (NVQ level 4 and above) England’s educational and training
performance is one of the best in the world, but the under-performance at lower
attainment levels is dragging down the average.
The root of this is problems with standards of literacy and numeracy which
mean many adults are unable to continue learning or to earn a living in a
knowledge-based economy.
Web links www.nacett.org.uk
Teachers attend vocational class
Edexcel is rolling out a massive in-service training programme to help
teachers improve the delivery of learning.
During the current academic year the examining board will run 500 sessions
providing training for 40,000 teachers. Over a third will be dedicated to
vocational education to help educators get to grips with recent changes.
"These sessions have been very well attended," says a
spokesperson.
"They examine the new specifications and new-style units in detail and
offer delegates opportunities to look at different ways of structuring their
courses to meet the needs of students."
Teacher interest is encouraging for Edexcel chairman, Garry Hawkes, who
strongly advocates parity of esteem between academic and vocational
qualifications. "Calling GNVQs vocational A-levels is very positive as it
sets the Government seal on the value that those qualifications have," he
says.
"Vocational qualifications should not be ghettoised – they ought to be
part of everyone’s achievements."
Contacts: tel 0870 240 9800, e-mail inset@edexcel.org.uk
, web link www.edexcel.org.uk
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