ATL COMMENT ON McDONALD’S, NETWORK RAIL AND FLYBE BEING ALLOWED TO AWARD NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

28 January 2008

Martin Johnson, acting deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

“We are pleased McDonald’s, Network Rail and Flybe are taking the training of their staff seriously – something which all companies should be doing.

“However, we have concerns about whether the qualifications will provide employees with skills which will be recognised by other companies and in further and higher education, and whether the skills can be built upon in what ever career the trainee wants to pursue later on.

“Instead of companies creating new qualifications, we believe it would be far more useful if their training led to more widely accepted qualifications.

“The days of jobs for life are long gone, so people need to have skills which are useful in a variety of companies and sectors.

“Companies have long said employees lack important personal and communication skills – such as problem-solving, team-working, flexibility and the willingness to continually learn.

“The Government must accept the need to reform the national curriculum and the post-16 curriculum so that it incorporates these skills and ensures all learners gain these important abilities.”