Measures set out in the Autumn Statement designed to improve young people’s chances in the labour market may not have the effect they are supposed to. Removing the cap on university numbers may increase places but it’s equally likely to benefit more prestigious institutions who can now recruit students who would have had to gone … Continue reading Will Autumn Statement really help young people?
Author: Martin Allen
South Korea’s never ending schooling.
Another round of PISA tables puts the educational establishment on the defensive about the UK’s mediocre performance. It’s certainly true the way the comparisons are made is open to dispute (www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10191157/International-school-league-tables-utterly-wrong.html) and it’s also right to argue that Michael Gove’s policies continue to undermine teacher trust and lower morale still further. It’s equally the case … Continue reading South Korea’s never ending schooling.
New Book – Education in Europe: the Politics of Austerity
Edited by Ken Jones www.radicaledbks.com ISBN 978-0-9575538-3-5 Across Europe, governments have cut educational spending and remodelled education systems. Some of this has been done in the name of austerity. Much of the rest is an attempt to ‘economise’ education, introducing private sector interests, market competition and business-inspired management regimes. Governments in these ways try to replace … Continue reading New Book – Education in Europe: the Politics of Austerity
The grads and the rest.
Martin Allen and Patrick Ainley Last week the Office for National Statistics published extensive data about graduates in the labour market (www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/graduates-in-the-labour-market/2013/index.html). It showed that the number of recent graduates working in ‘non-graduate’ jobs had risen from 37% in 2001 to 47%. Of course, there’s been a huge increase in graduate numbers with the percentage … Continue reading The grads and the rest.
Well attended book launch
At a well attended launch of Education Beyond the Coalition and Education in Europe on 19th November at Goldsmiths, Ken Jones and Martin Allen outlined how the books related to current issues and struggles and Christine Blower, NUT General Secretary, described how the current teachers industrial action was also about the future direction of state education. These books … Continue reading Well attended book launch
The ‘hour glass’ economy?
A recent report from Resolution Foundation (www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/polarising-crisis/) confirms a number of trends seen to be taking place in the labour market. Particularly that the number of low-skill jobs created post recession exceeds the number of those considered high-skill and that the downturn has accentuated the decline of ‘routine’ and ‘middle-skill jobs’ – more likely to … Continue reading The ‘hour glass’ economy?
Labour market notes
Government representatives have made much of the fact that the monthly ONS figures show 30 million Britons are now in some form of employment. Though this is an all-time high, it’s still lower in percentage terms than before the downturn –as a result of a rising population. Nevertheless, unemployment fell by 48,000 to 2.47 million, … Continue reading Labour market notes
Restoring ‘economic competitiveness’. Will apprenticeships provide the answer?
Michael Gove’s determination to hold education entirely responsible for the UK’s failing international competitiveness is mirrored elsewhere. The week before Gove announced his latest GCSE proposals, David Cameron also called for a ‘new era’ of apprenticeships (www.express.co.uk/news/uk/439595/Firms-sign-up-to-apprentice-schemes) with more academic assessment, particularly in maths and English. Cameron’s announcement was also a response to recommendations in the … Continue reading Restoring ‘economic competitiveness’. Will apprenticeships provide the answer?
GCSE. The times they are a changing
The latest changes to GCSE by Michael Gove make the original examination even more unrecognisable. It is somewhat ironic that GCSE was introduced by a Tory government headed by Margaret Thatcher and an Education Minister, Sir Keith Joseph, considered, like Gove, to be on the right of the party. GCSE was also left largely untouched … Continue reading GCSE. The times they are a changing
Hope yet for the ‘dismal science’ ?
A group of Manchester University economics students have caused a stir by demanding changes to their syllabus - the inclusion of critics of the free market like Keynes and Marx. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/24/students-post-crash-economics They also criticise university courses for having too much focus on training students for City jobs. The 'Post Crash Economics Society' plans to publish an alternative manifesto … Continue reading Hope yet for the ‘dismal science’ ?
Education, Economy and Society 