By Graham Clews
25 March 2011
25 March 2011
The chancellor’s announcement that the number of university technical colleges will be increased to 24 has led to warnings of a ‘two-tier’ education system by teaching unions.
George Osborne said the technical colleges, to be run as partnerships between universities, colleges and businesses, will educate young people from the age of 14 in business, engineering and other practical skills, with all 24 colleges expected to be open by 2014.Businesses will have a say in the colleges’ curriculums, which can be tailored to local needs, and students will be allowed to use the facilities of local businesses.
But the Universities and College Union warned that the technical colleges would drain funds from the further education sector. General secretary Sally Hunt said it would also ‘reintroduce selection at 14 and create a two-tier system in further education’.
The National Union of Teachers echoed the UCU’s views. General secretary Christine Blower said technical colleges could end up as the ‘poor cousins’ of academic institutions.
Osborne also announced that the government would be providing £180m to fund an extra 50,000 apprenticeships over the next four years.
