Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders, welcomes recent government changes to the education system.
Richard Beresford
The prime minister has appointed Justine Greening MP as the secretary of state for education.
With the transfer of responsibility for universities, skills and research to the Department for Education (DfE), the former secretary of state for international development will have a much more powerful government department at her disposal than her predecessor.
I welcome the prime minister’s decision to adopt a joined-up approach towards education. The transfer of responsibilities for universities, research and skills to the DfE will make it so much easier to navigate the labyrinth that the learning and training landscape has become.
Let me be absolutely honest: genuinely joined-up government remains the stuff of pipe dreams. Having said that, moving complementary disciplines under one department is the best way to ensure that all children are taught the skills that will equip them for life.
Adopting this joined up approach will not just enable businesses to recruit work-ready employees, but it will hopefully put an end to the practice of financially rewarding schools for keeping children on in sixth form which may not be in children’s best interest.
This move should also be seen as an opportunity to finally bring in objective career advice to young people. Youngsters ought to be presented with the wide range of career opportunities that sectors such as construction are able to provide, and not just be pushed immediately down the academic route because it benefits schools financially.
The lack of objective career advice to pupils in schools is a real challenge that the government must promptly address, as well as the origin of the skills crisis in the construction industry. Why else is it that half of each year’s construction apprentices ends up dropping out?
We look forward to working with the Department for Education to help solve some of the industry’s skills issues.
