How well does education prepare young people to enter the workplace? That is the question posed by a public consultation exercise being launched by the Department of Education and Children today (Thursday). ‘In this highly competitive environment, we have to recognise that if the Island is to prosper, our young people must be equipped with the skills to enable them to fully participate in the workplace,’ said Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children. ‘Our economy has changed and the education system should also adapt. There are various opinions as to what the education system should deliver and we are seeking the views of the public.’ The consultation concentrates on how well education prepares students for the workplace 1) on leaving school at either 16 or 18 and 2) after higher education. All five secondary schools offer 14 to 16-year-old pupils ‘pre-vocational’ qualifications such as applied GCSEs, BTEC awards or similar. However, in 2010, 88 per cent of exam entries for that age group were traditional GCSEs, whereas in the UK the figure was 76 per cent. Vocational courses offer different ways of working that help to build teamwork, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Financial constraints have impacted on a programme which, at its peak, saw 40 per cent of 14 to 16-year-olds attend the Isle of Man College at least half a day per week, either for taster sessions or to complete qualifications in subjects such as construction, engineering and hair and beauty. The Isle of Man has not followed England in requiring young people to stay in education, employment or training until 18. However, 16-year-old school leavers are facing more competition for jobs and more students than ever (51 per cent in 2010) are staying on at school, while at least 8 per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds are not working, learning a trade or studying, the consultation document acknowledges. ‘Key questions now facing the DEC/schools relate to what the 14-16 curriculum should offer. These questions focus around what we want our young people to be like at 16; how the curriculum needs to change to achieve that; how the curriculum can better prepare young people for the workplace; how the curriculum can engage all young people; what vocational pathways should be offered and how young people can be encouraged to engage in lifelong learning,’ the document states. Similar questions face the Department regarding students who stay on into sixth form, the document goes on. ‘These focus around how much of the post-16 curriculum offer should be general education (eg: A level) and how much should be vocational; what key pathways need to be available for post-16 students and how the curriculum can better prepare young people for the workplace.’ The DEC funds 1,300 students in higher education, 1,100 of them on first degree courses. The cost to the taxpayer is ?11.4 million. The Island has been able to maintain its enviable support, meeting course fees for all three-year, first degree courses, the only change in recent years being insisting on higher grades at A level to qualify for assistance. However, with some courses specifically related to areas of employment but others not, and with no requirement on students to return to the Isle of Man, the document acknowledges that questions are asked about what the Island gets back in return. ‘Given that some sectors suffer from skill shortages and find it necessary to recruit non-Isle of Man workers who require work permits, the question of whether higher education funding should be more directly focused to develop the skills needed in the Manx economy seems a reasonable one to ask,’ states the consultation. ‘The cost of higher education in UK universities is clearly set to rise. The Department may have to consider how far it can continue to fund all first degree courses. It will need to consider whether courses that help to meet the Island’s skills shortages should be prioritised so that they are funded first, funded in full or even incentivised in some way; whether other courses with no relevance to the Manx economy should be given a lower priority or only partially funded; whether A level grades required to access higher education funding should be higher for some courses than others and how the funding of higher education places can be used to better prepare students for the workplace.’ The consultation, which can be viewed online at http://www.gov.im/Consultations.gov, runs until Friday 17th June. Responses and queries should be directed to: Paul Craine, Coordinating Adviser for 11-19 Education, Department of Education and Children, Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas, IM1 5EZ. Email: p.craine@gov.im Tel: 01624 685353. Minister Teare said: ‘The results of this consultation will not determine my policy in the very short-term, but will help my successor to plan the way forward after September’s General Election.’ Ends