The human costs of part-time day release

Abstract

Four cohorts of “unqualified” school leavers, starting in part-time day release engineering courses in local technical colleges between 1950 and 1960 were the subjects of four studies during their first three years at college. 35% (714) of them replied to a questionnaire sent out in 1966. The enquiry covered their achievement at college, their careers in industry and the relationship between the two. Response rates were biased in favour of the more successful in the early years at college. This paper is concerned with the 110 respondents (17%) who had obtained a Higher National Certificate by 1966. The percentages varied with time from about 40% for those starting in 1950 down to 9% for the 1960 cohort. The evidence presented suggests that despite an inbuilt failure rate on the part-time National Certificate courses some students persisted against the odds for as long as twelve years in order to achieve professional qualifications by this route. This heavy price in terms of human endeavour is contrasted with the cost-benefit analyses of the economists which show that the production of qualified manpower by the HNC route provides higher rates of return to society than full-time University courses. In answer to the question about their plans for the education of their own children 59% of all respondents and 77% of those who had achieved the higher qualification wanted longer schooling, University degree and other full-time courses. It seems unlikely that those who have themselves struggled for years along the “cheap”, “hard way” will readily accept economic arguments for the continuation of these conditions for the next generation.