Training (From The Northern Echo)

Training

10:01am Monday 3rd November 2008 in Letters

WHETHER the Government is right to “borrow our way out of recession” when the problems themselves stem from nearly a decade of reckless borrowing, will continue to be debated.

During this difficult time we must not lose sight of the future.

Borrowing and spending today risks either tax rises or spending cuts tomorrow.

One often overlooked consequence, which could have a real impact in the North-East, is the damage being done to our education system.

I am already receiving messages from constituents studying on apprenticeship programmes at further education colleges. Often, these courses require a student to work while studying, getting hands-on experience which forms part of the qualification.

With the economy contracting, students cannot get the work placements. They cannot get qualifications without work and in future they will not be able to find work without those qualifications.

We are sowing the seeds of future unemployment if something is not done to ensure vocational training schemes survive the downturn.

It may not be a fashionable topic, but history will not be kind if we allow this hidden effect to ruin the next generation’s long-term employment prospects.

James Wharton, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Stockton South.