I was informed this morning from my husband that the Government have, yet again, changed their plans and decided to dismiss the English Baccalaureate , claiming it is 'a narrow view of education'.
Well, why didn't they ask?! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21363396
To omit the Art subjects as less important shows great disrespect to those who are gifted in these subjects and it was bound to fail when a vast majority of the country's children are barely passing the standard GSCEs!
Many parents of schooled children strongly opposed this idea and felt Gove was being dictatorial in his proposes; choosing what was 'in' and what was 'out'...it is blatantly unjust on so many children...
It may help to show the differences between the IGCSEs and the GCSEs though; it would be comforting to know that they were valued more highly by the education system and FE places.
All this unrest and indecision only leads to more people feeling uncomfortable and unable to trust in any qualifications in the UK system..what will be required of our children next I ponder?
May the Holy Family keep all those involved in important changes to our educational system in their prayers and ask God to lead them wisely and with discernment.
As someone who has done both the first part of the French BAC then A levels in England, it is rather a sorry state of affairs in this country.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found and still find most distressing in this country is the pressure that is put on young people: the pressure to choose, specialise and discern even at school. By the time a pupil arrives at A level, they are already a specialised person, they have narrowed their schooling down to three possibly four subjects for the brighter children. They are already forging their future by the choices they have taken at A level, which could range from all science to all literary subjects. It can be an exclusive education. What happened to a broader view of education where a good knowledge of all subjects was required? We are creating a country of mini specialists where eventually nobody will have any general knowledge or common sense! What happened to the subjects like Latin which taught of our civilisation? Are they going too? No wonder we have a society that doesn't understand it's past. How can you affront the future without a link to the past without building on what went before?
On another note, this specialisation is also noted among universities. Our GCSE' and A levels are worthless unless you achieve the top, and unless you go to a top university to get your degree, the paper from the university is worthless too!
The BAC as the French know it requires a general knowlegde, a broader education. Even if you choose science of literature you still have to do both types of subjects just with a greater amount of hours on one or the other!
The Arts are important. They are the foundation of our civilised world. Man needs to appreciate art, literature, music, philosophy to find his way: a way that is not broken from the past but built on it, finding a way forward for the future!