I wonder if you have noticed now there’s an election coming up, MPs are suddenly accessible -available for interviews, web chats etc. Anyway the other day TES (Times Education Supplement) organized an excellent web chat with Stephen Williams from the Lib Dems, focusing on FE (Further Education) sector.
I thought I participate since I am involved in this sector (DCT helps shape young people’s attitudes as they prepare for work placements and apprenticeship). This is a direct transcript of my dialogue with Stephen Williams, which was an eye opener to how much some MPs know about what’s going on within our education system.
Viv: I am a training provider and over the past couple of months I have been running my programme on shaping young people’s attitudes as they start work placements or apprenticeships. My Q is what help will the Lib Dems provide for FE colleges to support students who need to the have the balance b/w ability and soft skills? From my experience a lot of them are not taught, but need them.
Stephen Williams: Yes, employers always moan about the lack of “soft skills” – I wish we had another phrase for them! Some of it will come from creativity in the curriculum enabling more rounded people – e.g. through drama and creative writing and other performance work making people more articulate and team players (sport is not the only way to teach this – I hated games!). But also needs to be some formal discipline about time keeping and I would like a zero tolerance of poor English – I see loads of poorly written CVs!
Viv’s follow up: Yes employers complain but the situation is still the same. FE colleges need a specific budget for ‘soft skills’. A lot of people take it for granted but when you speak to Young people from inner-city London then you realise how dire the situation is – and nothing is done to tackle it. All the FE colleges I have approached want a programme like mine but don’t have the budget to accommodate it. Still didn’t get an answer though!
Stephen Williams: Viv – Not sure whether there needs to be new budget or extra money. Really this should be built into existing learning.
Really? Built into existing learning? When? I could have got into a debate with Mr Williams but to what end? I wasn’t the only one who had questions and honestly didn’t think he actually knows what goes on in an FE college. I wish MPs go and see things 1st hand and not make general statements – has Mr Williams seen a curriculum, I wonder?
