Is anyone else in the same boat as me and worried about Blair's target of 50% of people going to university? I think it's totally bonkers - 50% of people were never meant to go to university, they aren't built for that type of study. That's not to say they are any better or worse than people with an academic bent, but in the same way I haven't a clue about how to take a car engine to bits, other people aren't well suited to academia. Equally, there are some people who are amazing at sport, but don't cope well with 30 hours of lectures a week.
I'm worried about the way New Labour is trying to homogenise the UK into a white-collar, middle-management nation of administrators. It seems to be afraid to have blue-collar workers as those people "might" feel inferior. How inferior do you think plumbers, electricians and carpenters, so in demand at the moment on £80K a year in London feel? Not very, I'd wager.
I think this is really storing up real problems for the future. We should be encouraging people to pursue different career paths that reflect their skills, not trying to make them fit a mould that Blair likes the look of. It makes for a more interesting society. The abolition of the technical colleges was a big mistake in my opinion - I reckon someone could make a killing setting up an equivalent fee-paying institution now - I'd bet you'd get loads of mid-30s former white-collar workers paying to learn metal-work, wood-work, wiring, etc. so they could get out of their dull office based jobs. An Academy of Useful Skills.
Anyone fancy starting one?!