Technical and Vocational Education Initiative

HC Deb 26 November 1985 vol 87 cc537-8W

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the technical and vocational education initiative and its future expansion.

Mr. Trippier

The initiative is now in its third year. In 1983 14 Local education authorities in England and Wales mounted the first TVEI projects, involving 144 schools and colleges. Last year the Government asked the Manpower Services Commission to extend the initiative and currently 74 projects in England, Scotland and Wales, with 500 schools and colleges are participating. Projects have proved to be popular and many have been oversubscribed. A further 28 proposals are currently being considered for a 1986 start.

In the White Papers "Better Schools" (Cmnd 9469) and "Education and Training for Young People" (Cmnd 9482), published earlier this year, the Government indicated their view that the TVEI projects were laying a foundation which must be built on. The Government have introduced a scheme of TVEI related in-service training for teachers and are considering the wider application of the lessons emerging from the initiative.