Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 10 May 2017.
Thank you for that answer, Minister, and it’s important that we ensure parity of esteem for vocational qualifications as, for many, that’s going to be a stronger route for them into further education and into work opportunities, and it allows young people to demonstrate the skills that, perhaps, the academic route doesn’t offer.
Now, as such, too many parents and too many young people are still of the view that the traditional A-level is the only way forward for them. There is a different way, and you’ve highlighted there that you’re offering vocational education, but it’s about telling them the benefits of that so they understand what they can gain out of that. Now, vocational qualifications offer routes for many young people into further or higher education, into work opportunities, into areas that need the skills and competencies of those individuals. So, how are you going to actually work with FE colleges and other institutions to promote the vocational qualifications amongst the 14 to 16-year-olds so that, when they finish their GCSE courses, they actually have a good understanding of the opportunities available to them, and the pathways that they can take when they leave?