Hi Jason
(snip)
maybe city and guilds should bring back the old marking system, pass, credit and distinction again. could make a difference.
Gary
The reason that system was scrapped was because it was unfair. From an employer point of view, if you know Distinction is the highest grade, why would you settle for less? You wouldn't, unless the person with a lower mark made up for it in other ways and what other way could they make up for it outside of job knowledge? Well if they had job knowledge would they not get a distinction anyway? It's a redundant system.
If you got less than distinction you may as well have just flat out failed.
Also City & Guilds is their to make money, I have Bpec, C&G, Construction skills, all sorts plastered on my wall, but the ability to pass a test doesn't mean if I went into a customers house I'd be ready to take up their laminated flooring and bypass their underfloor heating in order to install some more plug sockets.
This is the issue with these courses, they are not real world ready. Many people can study to pass an exam, it's nothing new, schools have been doing it for years. But the real world has many variables involved and that needs to start becoming a factor in these qualifications. Otherwise it's like many have said, "chicken and egg syndrome". Where people just
want you to have the qualification, because of legal obligations, but they
need you to have previous experience because their is just too much to teach you.
It's never an exaggeration when sparkies say "everyday I'm still learning", because it's true.
Unfortunately, young people are being sold on these courses as a way to gain a career, and build a better future for their family, but when the course is over, they are still non the wiser. And after spending 5k or more, and with things to support, and a bank demanding the money back, they feel they have no choice except to start working. This is where the problems begin, and unfortunately where people get hurt or killed.