by Ady6970 on Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:38 pm
Today the Schools Minister, Ed Balls (now there's a name for you) announced the introduction of a new Diploma course which would run alongside A Levels for the next five years at least. However he refused to rule out the scrapping of A levels in six years time. To give Mr Balls his due, a wise politician never rules anything in or out. After all, a week is a long time in politics, never mind six years. A Levels are admittedly old fashioned, relics of the 1950's which have somehow managed to survive into the 21st Century. They are none the worse for that, however. For all their faults, parents and employers (who often through no fault of their own aren't up to speed on the latest developments in education) do at least know what they are and what they represent - the gold standard. They're 'something understood' in an educational world which, over the decades, has been beset by constant change. In short, they've become something of an institution. Should it happen, scrapping them will come at a price in terms of the public's confidence in, and engagement with, the educational system. Mr Balls and his successors should take note.
