What an NVQ is (apparently) considered as equivalent to in "old" quals

[philbas]

I did an NVQ level 2 also city&guilds 2351 level 3 everyday for 12 months in collage and also had to attend the following year to complete 2351. The city&guilds 2330 I did 1 day a week from sept last year to June this year. We don't set the standards within these qualifications or say if it's going to be NVQ or city&guilds it's the industry that sets these to what companies desire and the material within it I suppose.

I think this sums it up, you can only take (and hopefully pass) the exams that are on offer, you can say it was harder in the old day when we lived in cardboard boxes on the cobbled streets, but we don't have those exams now. You can only pass what is put in front of you.

 

[Evans Electric]

Cardboard box !!!! Cardboard box!!! You were well off, bloody hole in the ground mate !!!!

Exams !!!! Exams !!!! We had to take a PhD. at 7 years old with both hands tied behind our backs then get straight back down 't mine with no supper. Mind you that were no 'ardship ..... never ate at all till we wuz 15 .

 

[apprentice87]

Hi all,

Only me!!!!

Go here:

Qualification comparisons

john...

 

[Sidewinder]

Looks like a level 7 then!

 

[davetheglitz]

I have no idea what is equivalent these days but i did once wear a black gown with red hood lining and blue trim

Any friend of Batman is a friend of mine!

Soapbox time - sorry!

A good friend of mine works with new graduates - and he says that if you gave them a pickle jar they could tell you the acidity of the vinegar, where the onions were grown their density etc - but don't have a clue how to open the jar.

He also reckons that he would not be considered for his current job if he had to apply now as he doesn't have the academic qualifications that say he can do the job - even though he's been doing it for 40+ years.

The trouble is that we are lazy - and if something is written down it's easy to mark. Practical skills can be assessed - but it's costly and it's not easily reassessed or moderated. AM2 seems to be a good transparent test with lots of safeguards built in - but apart from the driving test I struggle to think of anything else.

If NVQ meant something it shouldn't need an equivalent. However the administration of NVQ always veers to what is written down rather than practical ability. I know assessors who virtually write what is needed for the students. We need both practical and academic ability!

 

[PC Electrics]

According to that equivalency table an NVQ 3 is equivalent to an A level. WTF??

Now, I did my 4 A levels back in 1983. At that time only around 20% or less of students went on to do A levels. Those 4 A levels took 2 years of FULL TIME study. And they were HARD. There is no way on earth that the NVQ3 my apprentice has started and will finish next year is anywhere near to an A level (at least no kind of A level I'm familiar with).

Also at that time only about 6% of students went to university. Competition was FIERCE for all places. I failed to get into my first choice of university. My degree (BSc Hons in Mech Eng) took 3 years of FULL TIME study. Many people either dropped out or were kicked off the course if they didn't come up to the mark. Is it any wonder people like me think many of todays degrees are virtually worthless when something like 45% of students are gaining one!!!

 

[ajkend]

Guy what do you mean by 5ww stuff such as 2330 . It took me 3 years to do that at college. I worked for a firm as an adult trainee in that time, what else was I supposed to do?

 

[wozz]

To be fair I dpwould have thought doing three nvq3s at the same time would be hard!

 

[Guy]

I think you may want to check some details. the 2330 is the full blown thing, one that people spend 3 years at college to get, not one that is offered on the 5ww options

Sorry but it is a 5ww, I did 2330 level 2 and 3 on a fast track course last year, started early May and finished Nov time so not actually 5 weeks but I believe it is an expression used to cover all short courses.

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Guy what do you mean by 5ww stuff such as 2330 . It took me 3 years to do that at college. I worked for a firm as an adult trainee in that time, what else was I supposed to do?

I meant no offence, I was using a course that can be done fast track as an example of a course which within the industry isnt as respected as an NVQ, or so I thought, that was why I queried what quals are respected. Sorry you took it to heart. (I have done 2330)

 

[Zeespark]

Guy I have little respect at most after seeing NVQ's being forged in My old college in west London, both students and some foremen were in on it.

AndyGuinness

 

[sellers]

problem is, with the PC world we live in, everyone has to have the oportunity to get a degree, which starts to degrade their status. With it being a lot easier to gain these degrees, in 10 years time we will be saturated with academic types, jobs will be less paid and harder to aquire.

On the flip side, with the way the apprenticeship scheme works, no job no course. (working along side the economic climate) in 10 years time we will be in need of more tradesmen, and these jobs will be better paid and easier to aquire.

Just my thoughts on it.