Private College Student Loan

Do you think the Government shot themselves in the foot with training/education?

Skills gaps. Too many Arts graduates and not enough plumbers, engineers, electricians and the like. Not enough graduate-level jobs for all these arts graduates resulting in a lot of under-employment. Lack of funding for people to retrain in a useful trade (Job Centre only helps long term unemployed and those who are in work have to rely on the "mercy" of the High Street Banks and their "Career Development Loans"). The result? Lots of skilled jobs which British people can't fill because they aren't sufficiently trained or skilled. Call in the Poles, Czechs and Lithuanians. Lots of British people left on the dole or in low paying, dead end jobs which need to be topped up with Tax Credits (at the expense of the Government). Lots of British people resentful and disaffected with the Government. Labour out at the next election? Philip - very interesting. Reminds me of something I was told by a friend's mother who is a nursing lecturer - she said that they are turning applicants away and there are long waiting lists for places on nursing or midwifery courses. So the Government claiming that we need to import nurses is nonsense. Andy - as a fellow "surplus" Arts graduate (History) I do understand exactly what you mean. I'm on £7 an hour, lol! about to do a PGCE although I know several qualified History teachers working in Callcentres.

Public Comments

1. Yes, with all these 'mistakes' new labour does I'm surprised they have a foot to stand on! Oh - they don't as the electorate can see!
2. It certainly looks as though there has been very little forward planning when it comes to addressing current and future skills gaps. Of course when the government does wake up to a shortage it is usually far too late. Workplace demands need to be projected and planned for at least 5 - 10 years in advance if we are to have the right numbers of people ready to go into key jobs.
3. My dad worked as a lecturer for 35 training apprentices for the Building Industry. And he will tell you there never was a skills shortage. There were enough people coming into the industry to cover the work, although the housing boom in the south east would have meant that others from the UK would need to relocate for the working week. What the DTI was worried about was that due to supply and demand the skilled traditionally working class professions were able to demand good wages, equivalent to that of University graduates. The eastern European invasion had nothing to do with a skills shortage (as a large number are unskilled Manuel workers, and even the skilled builders are self taught) but much more to do with money. New Labour is the Government who for the first time for 100 years actually increased the wealth gap between the working and middle classes. At the very point when they had the perfect opportunity to close it, this is one of the great scandals of our time.
4. Absolutly. I am one of those surplus arts graduates and now have an IT job of all things. Im glad I did my degree, but it isnt right for everyone. Most of my peers from my year group at school are in unskilled jobs and lack the money or time to train for a career - something they should have had the option for at the end of school. For the 2012 games another 300,000 construction workers will be needed. Ironically, that is how many people are on jobseekers allowance - why not just give them free training instead?
5. Only Labour could have floated a Higher Education policy that strove to get an arbitrary 50% of all school leavers into University.It satisfied the educationalist zealots with chips on their shoulders about middle class ‘elitist’ university education and the fiction that it is all about ‘access’ rather than aptitude and application.Some of the newer Universities and the newer courses are genuinely worthwhile innovations but overall the effect has been similar to Soviet tractor production.Pick a number.Collect a medal for meeting the production target.Never mind that the wheels come off 10% etc etc.
6. That's hit the nail on the head ! Yes - but what exactly should be done about it ?
7. labour just need to be removed. they are a party of traitors to the British people. they need to be removed now! because the damage they can do to Britain in the next two years doesnt bare thinking about. their sights are firmly set to destroy this country for a seat on the EU gravy train. not so long ago they would have been tried for treason.
8. "Lots of British people resentful and disaffected with the Government." Relate to that. But really though, it is NOT the Government's place to provide 'training for work skills'. It is the place of INDUSTRY who know exactly what skills they need and for what jobs. it is NOT the tax payers place to pay for plumbers and electricians. Sadly, Business, which New Labour bends of backwards to hug, has realised that costs can be slashed by importing foreign workers who think that €5 an hour is a good living wage. And so the Government has removed ALL incentives for business to stop training its workforce. And now resentment and disaffection has become a ticking timebomb in the majority population.
9. No they did not shoot themselves in the foot, they tried but missed and hit themselves in the head instead.
10. They always have done. Ever since YTS, ALL have been a faliure.