Improving technical education is one of three key campaign priorities for Labour, Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt has announced.
Addressing the Labour Party conference in Manchester, Mr Hunt outlined the three most important issues as his party heads into its general election campaign, including childcare reform, a qualified teacher in every classroom and efforts to provide for the “forgotten 50 per cent”.
He described technical education as the Tories’ “greatest failure” and referred to the “forgotten 50 per cent” of young people who didn’t go to university and were denied “the rewarding education they deserve”.
He added: “The third plank of our plan, is a vocational education system to rival Germany’s.
“A Labour Government will ensure Further Education colleges focused on training for local jobs, proper apprenticeships lasting two years, a technical baccalaureate, with respected qualifications, careers advice, technical degrees so young people can earn and learn.
“The old barriers between academic and technical crumbling under the next Labour government, righting the wrongs of the last five years.”
For extended coverage of the Labour Party conference, see edition 112 of FE Week.
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