Informatics In and Out of School

Abstract

A team of educational and training professionals is established in Great Britain who will be responsible for the inspection of all training schemes funded by the British Government through the Manpower Services Commission. The key objectives of the Commission are as follows: (1) to develop occupational training in such a way so as to enable people entering at different ages and with different educational attainments to acquire agreed standards of skill appropriate to the jobs available and to provide them with a basis for progression through further learning; (2) to move toward a position where all young people under the age of 18 have the opportunity, either to continue in full-time education, or to enter training or a period of planned work experience combining work-related training and education; and (3) to open up widespread opportunities for adults, whether employed or returning to work, to acquire, increase or update their skills and knowledge during the course of their working lives. The objectives led to the establishment of the Youth Training Scheme in 1983 that gave all young school leavers an opportunity for a year of planned work experience and vocational training to help fit them for employment in modern manufacturing and service industries. The two-year scheme regards the acquisition of skills in computing and information technology as mandatory. The chapter presents the design framework for the Youth Training Scheme that provides a basic foundation for working life through the integration of two key inputs, namely, planned work experience with on-the-job training and off-the-job training and education.