Education. We all have an opinion. This is the place to share yours.

  • How would you change the education system?

    We believe we need to revolutionise the education system to include more practical and vocational learning. In today's job market it's skills that count. Tell us how you would improve the way young people learn and what they learn.

    • The Youth Commission Report – have your say on a key recommendation 1 Reply

      Posted by: Edge | 21.07.2009 12:49pm

      The report identifying young people’s opinions on the Government bill to raise the participation age has now been published by the Edge Learner Forum. One of the findings is that young people learn best outside of the classroom and that there needs to be more opportunity for them to get out of the classroom and gain hands-on experience. As a result, the report is recommending more work experience in schools over and above the typical two weeks and more work-based learning courses.

      Do you think more work experience and work-based learning is a good idea? If so, how and why would it benefit you? Would it help to keep you engaged in education for longer? Let us know what you think.

      Contribute to this discussion

      • practica/vocational education

        Posted by: Anonymous | 21.09.2009 09:21pm

        Students need to:

        Understand practical maths - how to live on what you earn.
        what a payslip means, what is deducted (NI, tax, pension)and how you need to allow for rent, food (credit cards) to work out what you can spend, and not to exceed it. Aim to live within your means; debt is NOT a good thing

        Know how to speak to an adult in a job interview

        Aim to have pride in their work and sense of achievement when well done

        Realise that for real jobs time is needed for planning; you don't leap in

        Understand the importance of time keeping, to get to work on time (a skill to develop if not natural timekeepers)

        Know how to use a cooker (grill, oven, hob)to cook a variety of straightforward dishes to feed themselves a balanced diet without resorting to ready meals which are expensive ( eg. soup; jacket potato; shepherd's pie/chilli con carne/ssaghetti bolognaise; scrambled eggs; simple stir fry; pasta dish; a salad; a simple cake ; a baked apple; a simple sponge pudding.

        Be able to plan a week's cooking and shopping and realise that this saves money, time and leads to a healthier diet.

        Sadly much of workshop equipment went years ago in schools!

Have your say

  • Tell us more about yourself

    • In addition, are any of the following applicable to you?