Time to end ‘bogus’ HE-FE distinction, says Boris Johnson

In a speech following the announcement, Mr Johnson said the pandemic had highlighted “a shortage of UK-trained lab technicians” . Something being discussed on the UK Lab Superintendents group yesterday, many are struggling to replace older skilled staff that are retiring, in my research institute many technician roles are now done by PhD holders from Europe, how many will stay after Brexit is currently an unknown, but they earn and learn more here. “I don’t for a second want to blame our universities,” the prime minister continued, calling the expansion of higher education one of the UK’s “great achievements”. But he said that a “significant and growing minority” of university graduates were now working in non-graduate jobs. This was always going to happen, Bliar's dumping additional young people onto Universities to keep them off the dole que, with the smoke and mirrors claim of improving social mobility, has done much damage. Through the subsequent loading of debt, much like Thatcher's selling off council homes to residents, makes it easier to 'control' them. That many 'graduates' have meaningless degree's that have no place in a normal workplace doesn't help.

The difference between HE and FE is valid. I have taught in both. FE is fantastic at training, delivering the skills that people need to do a given job, or preparing them to learn those skills (if doing 'sixth form' work). HE is about finding out more about a subject that interests you, which may or may not lead directly to a job. It equips you with an enquring mind and the tools to feed that curiousity... which can include acquiring the skills you need for the career you have chosen. Only a few vocational courses send you out with some of the skills you need - and even potential doctors and lawyers need further hands-on training before they can be let loose in their chosen career! There's room for both FE and HE, and indeed both should be adequately funded, but it's delusional to think they provide the same thing!

Great news but......... If properly implemented as a Life Long policy this could improve productivity, advance social mobility, benefit many talented individuals who had a poor school experience or matured in later years. However, it is not a quick solution and it is no good encouraging people to start courses at level 3 and above next April if they are not likely to finish the courses or do not have the ability and attitude needed to benefit from the opportunity. By all means give people who will benefit a second chnace. However, if this is just a political gimick it could be a massive waste of money. Historically we have more people with level 2 qualifications than level 3 at the age of 18. Poor Literacy and Numeracy skills could prevent many potential students taking up the new opportunity. There is also a capacity issue to consider. At the moment FE and HE do not have enough quality "teachers" to do the new training. The devil, as always, is in the detail and the execution of the policy is likely to prove more difficult than the announcement of the policy.