New research by independent education foundation Edge has found that the majority of ‘middle income’ parents can no longer afford to send their children to University. The report also found that 31% of middle income families felt that University is simply not worth the investment any more.
The study was carried out by Edge partly in response to the raising of University tuition fees as well as in preparation for their annual VQ Day celebration of vocational qualifications – which is held on 22 June 2011. The aim of the charity, and the VQ Day scheme, is to raise awareness of the benefits and achievements possible through vocational courses like electrician training. Lord Baker, the former education secretary and current chairman of Edge said:
"For too long, middle income parents have been blinkered to the alternative education options to university for their child. The vocational route provides something incredibly valuable to a young person because it equips them with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.”
Regarding vocational courses like electrician training, the Edge report found that 37% of middle income parents of 11-18 year olds who previously wanted their children to go on to University now do not feel that a University degree represents the best option for their children. The study also found that 38% of the parents believe vocational courses such as plumbing courses and electrician training will provide their children with the best chance of success in the future – as such qualifications will give their children more ‘real-life’ work experience desired by employers, as well as enable them to obtain valuable business contacts.
Other notable findings in the study shed a light on the fears many parents have concerning their children’s future, with 83% admitting they are worried about the future employment prospects of their children, and 82% worried about their offspring’s ability to earn a living wage in the future.
Vocational courses like electrician training are rising in popularity because they offer a more cost-effective career route for young people than University degrees which, following the recent rise in tuition fees, many young people simply cannot afford. As well as Edge and their VQ Day celebrations of vocational qualifications, there are many schemes currently dedicated to providing young people with more opportunities to access vocationally focussed courses like electrician training.
RF Training provides a variety of vocational courses in their two purpose-built training centres in Birmingham and Manchester. Our courses include electrician training, plumber training and gas installation courses and we also provide a business start-up course to enable graduates to learn all they need to know about setting up their own business and using their vocational qualifications to build a long, rewarding, successful career.