§ Mr. Bourne-Artonasked the Minister of Education whether he is now in a position to announce proposals for the national recognition of courses of further education for young office workers.
§ Sir E. BoyleYes. After consulting the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce and a number of organisations representing industry and commerce, the trade unions, the local education authorities and the teachers, I have decided to establish a new award to be known as the Certificate in Office Studies. The award, details of which are given in a circular which I am today sending to local education authorities, will be available to students who successfully complete a two-year part-time course in office studies which will be offered in technical colleges and colleges of commerce throughout England and Wales from September, 1963, onwards.
These courses will be primarily intended for boys and girls who enter office employment without the General Certificate of Education Ordinary level qualifications needed to take the Ordinary National Certificate in Business Studies, and stress will be laid upon the practical relevance of the subjects studied to the day to day work of the students. The courses should make a wide appeal to young people and employers, and I hope that employers will give every encouragement to their young office workers to take them, in particular by giving day release.