§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures have been taken to improve the quality of work-related non-advanced further education in Strathclyde and in Scotland as a whole.
§ Mr. Allan StewartFollowing the publication of the 16-plus action plan in 1983 a major reform of the framework of non-advanced further education and training for those over the age of 16 has led to the introduction throughout Scotland of new modular programmes of study leading to the award of the new SCOTVEC national certificate. Students (including adults wishing to retrain) can take programmes of modules which cover a whole range of vocational and personal skills. The new system enables students to identify the components they require for a chosen job or career, or to complement what they are learning at work, or to change direction and build on to existing qualifications without loss of credit. The modules can be adapted easily and quickly to meet the changing needs of industry and to take account of the impact of new technology. The system allows the development of closer links between education and training schemes, such as YTS, which are designed to prepare young people for working life; YTS trainees can receive the SCOTVEC national certificate for their "off-the-job" training. These recent important developments in Scotland will be enhanced by the introduction of the two-year YTS on 1 April which will include measures to further improve the quality of training of young people on and off the job. Through the Manpower Services Commission the Government also provide a wide range of adult training for employed and unemployed people. All of these measures are available in Strathclyde as elsewhere in Scotland. The Government's initiatives have helped place Scotland in the vanguard of further education and training progress.