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Post-14 education shake-up call Post-14 education shake-up call
(about 6 hours later)
Radical changes are needed to the way post-14 education is delivered in Wales, a report is expected to say. Radical changes have been urged in the way post-14 education is delivered in Wales.
The review by Sir Adrian Webb, former vice-chancellor of the University of Glamorgan, into further education will be released to the assembly government. A review by Sir Adrian Webb, former vice-chancellor of the University of Glamorgan, into further education was released to the assembly government.
More than 100 recommendations to improve education and training offered to young people are due to be outlined. More than 100 recommendations to improve education and training offered to young people were outlined.
Reducing the number of young people not in education or training is also expected to be highlighted. It highlighted a need to reduce the number of young people in neither education, employment nor training.
Sir Adrian is expected to say changes are needed to close a basic skills gap which has been emerging over recent years. The report said education for those aged over 14 must undergo "radical" changes over the next five years if the basic skills gap was to be closed.
The review is likely to address issues such as whether further education in Wales provides the kind of education and training people need for the jobs of the future. It also recommended more investment and greater budget efficiency in the current system, highlighting the problem of too many empty places in schools.
How do we ensure that... we have the kind of opportunities which will engage learners... and we have the skills the economy needs? Sir Adrian Webb, review author It is also expected to look into the funding of the sector and how to reduce the number of young people who are in neither education, employment nor training. It also pointed out the need to eliminate the problem of people dropping out of learning, as well as the growing level of skill needed to satisfy employers.
Sir Adrian said choices made at 14 were "critical" to people's futures and it was at that stage pupils decide whether they feel comfortable with highly-academic or more practical, vocational programmes. We have yet to make real progress in very important areas such as the basic skills deficit Sir Adrian Webb
He told BBC Radio Wales: "That's the fundamental issue. The Webb Review of Further Education has put forward 139 recommendations to improve the achievements of 450,000 post-14 learners in Wales.
"How do we ensure that in school, in colleges, 14 onwards, we have the kind of opportunities which will engage learners, all learners, regardless of ability and ambition, to ensure that we overcome the significant underachievement and we have the skills the economy needs, that employers need in order to take Wales forward?" Basic skills training was focused upon, with a recommendation for more tutors in this area, and the implementation of more vocational learning for 14-19-year-olds, as well as a 50% increase in apprenticeships offered over the next four years.
There was a need for "fairly radical change", he added. Other proposals included the creation of specialist colleges to "act as engines for the delivery of skills in their areas," and the setting up of a fund which would allow employers to buy specific training from colleges to satisfy their needs.
The year-long study into the sector said funds for adult and community education should be channelled towards the most disadvantaged people in Wales and that more opportunities to study in the Welsh language should be made.
"Overall, further education institutions are surpassing the government's targets for learner achievement and the quality of teaching," said Sir Adrian.
"However we have yet to make real progress in very important areas such as the basic skills deficit, limited choice for 14-19-year-old learners, young people 'not in education, employment or training' (known as 'neets'), engaging the most socially disadvantaged people in learning or realising the potential of our most talented people through effective science education.
"In implementing our report, the goal over a 10-year period must be to deliver the virtual elimination of the basic skills gaps and neets, meaningful qualifications or accredited skills for all learners and skills that will have contributed to the creation of an extra 150,000 jobs."
The assembly government asked Sir Adrian to examine the mission and purpose of further education, including the scrutiny of post-14 learning and employer responsiveness in his review.
Sir Adrian said choices made at 14 were "critical" to people's futures and it was at that stage pupils decided whether they felt comfortable with highly academic programmes, or more practical, vocational ones.
But he said there were also policies such as the Welsh baccalaureate that were proving successful and could be developed more strongly.But he said there were also policies such as the Welsh baccalaureate that were proving successful and could be developed more strongly.
Sir Adrian was asked to lead the review into the further education sector by the assembly government, which had already identified the need to give consideration to the extent to which colleges should specialise and the focus on employability skills.