Jul 10 - Unite Young Members Committee Urges Reform Of Vocational Training System
Unite the union’s Young Members Committee says that for too long in Gibraltar, governments have believed there is only one way to success which is to follow the academic route through GCSEs, to A-levels, and the subsequent study of a traditional academic subject at university. The Committee believes that although this route has worked for many, it doesn’t suit those who decide not to undertake further studies many of whom, it says, are being let down.
A statement from the Committee continues: “This isn’t the way they do it in some other countries – and they are all the better for it. Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands have proper, joined-up qualifications at every level, including pathways on to gold-standard apprenticeships and careers, ensuring that employers and young people have the skills they need to succeed.
“This isn’t an academic debate – it makes a difference to many young people and to our ability to compete in the world. For the first time in a generation there is the real danger of our children doing worse than their parents, of the promise of a prosperous Gibraltar being broken, and going into decline. We cannot afford to allow people’s talents to go undeveloped and their hopes unfulfilled. Unite will continue to fight to fix this problem.
“Unite is committed to work with government and employers to reform our skills system to underpin the high-wage, high-skill, high quality economy which should be open to all Gibraltar residents.
“Unite Youth will continue to lobby government to introduce new gold standard vocational qualifications for young people and work with employers to radically improve the quantity and quality of apprenticeships.
“Central to this is a plan to pursue to introduce a new Vocational Framework across all trades. These courses should be designed together by some of our best educators and our leading employers, teaching people the skills they need to prosper in the new economy. This will mean that, for the first time, those who have excelled in vocational education and training opportunities to progress and access the high-skilled jobs of the future.
“This is a new direction for Gibraltar equal status for vocational qualifications from school to university and beyond. It means equipping our young people with the skills they need and providing Gibraltar with a reason to be confident for the future, so we can compete with the very best economies in the world in a race to the top.”
