How strange, before I had retired a couple of years ago, this was being trumpeted as the way forward. NHS managers were becoming excited with the prospect of hiring new staff (on a low A4C banding) and receiving sponsorship monies to support the training of new technicians. I presume (and sincerely would expect) that the existing technicians embarking on this form of study are being allowed to complete their education. Having spent several years in (modern) adult vocational technical education in the past, I must confess that I am not completely surprised. It remains a sad fact that the old proven systems have now been disbanded (yes, the ones that produced the journeyman technician) and if these new 'foundation degrees' or whatever they are now being called are no longer available then one has to wonder what does exist? Or more to the point does anyone in authority care?
