THE government announced plans on Thursday to boost Modern Apprenticeships. Education Secretary Estelle Morris, supported by Chancellor Gordon Brown, said she wanted to make on-the-job training for young people in England match the best in the world.
Ministers are backing reforms proposed at the end of September by Sir John Cassels, formerly director general of the National Economic Development Office and chairman of UK Skills. By 2004 they want almost one third of young people entering Modern Apprenticeships before the age of 22. At the moment, about 23 per cent (140,000) enter before 22.
A new technical certificate will be established to strengthen Modern Apprenticeships. This will be an over-arching certificate, and should help to rationalise the number of existing qualifications.
The government will spend pound;16 million over three years marketing MAs and trying to boost their popularity among employers and young people. A huge problem at present is that only about half of apprentices complete the two-year programme.
Ivan Lewis, minister for young people and learning, told FE Focus the government was determined to ensure that young people valued MAs. “We want to promote it with a market sell as the high-value, high-status option for young people. We are talking about parity of esteem with any other qualification. We want their value recognised by young people, employers, and also parents. We are satisfied with the number of young people, but we need to ensure they see it through to a conclusion.”
He said that some people on MAs would proceed to a new two-year Foundation Degree.
“In a climate where we are suffering from two things, a skills shortage and a productivity deficit, we need this kind of programme. It is about both social justice and the economic needs of the country.”
Both Ms Morris and Mr Lewis stressed that high quality work-based training was at the heart of the government’s 14-19 agenda. MAs provided a bridge between GCSEs and higher education.
From September 2004 there will be an entitlement to a Modern Apprenticeship place for all 16 and 17 year olds with five or more passes at grades A* to G.
Employers, local authorities and government departments will be asked to redouble their efforts in recruiting apprentices. There are under 100 Modern Apprentices in central government departments, of whom 51 are in the Department for Education and Skills.
