Vocational and technical training could become more popular than going to university, according to education secretary Gavin Williamson as he prepares to announce £120m in extra funding for a new wave of specialist institutes. That’s what you’ve seen in Singapore and we should have the same level of ambition in this country,” Williamson told the Guardian. Williamson told the Guardian that the new institutes of technology (IoTs) were intended to end the sector’s image as a poor relation. The education secretary said the success of encouraging half of sixth formers in England to enter higher education shouldn’t obscure the plight of the “forgotten 50%” who didn’t do so, and to improve the sophistication of the courses open to them through further education. Williamson said the mood in cabinet remained positive and Boris Johnson had been “incredibly supportive” towards vocational and technical education.

Source: The Guardian September 30, 2019 04:52 UTC