WALES’ education minister has pledged to ensure equal respect for both vocational and academic pathways in response to an independent review.
Jeremy Miles addressed the Senedd regarding the Welsh Government’s initiatives to revamp vocational education and enhance the range of qualifications tailored for Wales.
Emphasizing collaboration as a key aspect of the review led by Sharron Lusher, former principal of Pembrokeshire College, Mr. Miles highlighted the need to review qualifications to guarantee their relevance, bilingual availability, and alignment with the requirements of learners, employers, and providers.
In light of the 120-page report’s 33 recommendations, which deliberated on the establishment of a national awarding body for vocational qualifications, Mr. Miles acknowledged the appeal of such a body but recognized budget constraints as a limiting factor.
While endorsing the call for a national strategy for vocational qualifications aligned with employers’ skill demands, Mr. Miles expressed divergence from England’s approach of introducing T-levels as an alternative to A-levels in 2020.
Furthermore, he affirmed that all level-three learners would have access to work experience and disclosed plans to release statutory guidance for schools on 14-16 learning.
Janet Finch-Saunders of the Conservative Party cautioned that Wales lags behind other UK nations, criticizing the Welsh Government’s approach as secretive. She raised apprehensions about Qualifications Wales’ proposed skill-based VCSEs, citing concerns about schools’ capacity and funding challenges.
Disputing the portrayal of secrecy, Mr. Miles highlighted the timely publication of the report in September and his active engagement with MSs’ inquiries in the chamber.
The education minister lauded the introduction of VCSEs as a significant stride towards a more cohesive, efficient, and targeted educational offering, despite reservations expressed by critics regarding the potential burden on teachers and school budgets.