ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER 'A'-LEVEL FARCE.

Year after year, we are treated to the ludicrous spectacle of groups of teenagers hugging each other, giggling or weeping, after discovering their A-level results. Given that, these days, they've all been told what is supposed to be their realistic expectations well in advance of even doing the exams, it all seems very silly. The ease with which the children seem to achieve 'A*' and 'A' grades gives them a wholly distorted view of their abilities, with some of the better universities still having to run 'remedial' courses in order to bring students up to the required entrance standard in basic skills or knowledge. To add to the nonsense, radio and television stations treat the unveiling of the results and the ensuing annual chaos of the UCAS 'clearing system' as a news event of world-shaking significance.

My 'A'-level results, in ca 1970, arrived in the post with no fanfare; there was then a 'clearing system' but I was fortunate enough to be spared from it. I didn't, of course, have the vast range of universities and courses to choose from that exists today, but in those far off times, those who didn't achieve adequate results, or even attempt the exams, had the option of going on to attend local Technical Colleges, Art Colleges, or Polytechnics. Today, it seems to be university or nothing, with far too many ending up in 4th rate institutions studying useless and pointless subjects; 3 or 4 years later, they are perusing the racks at their local Job Centre, wondering why their 3rd class degree in knitting technology hasn't enabled them to find employment.

When are we going to bring some semblance of sense to this annual farce ? Far too many degree courses are in 'soft' subjects, with little or no practical value to the individual or to society as a whole, while many children find that the only way to access particular careers is through the acquisition of a degree, whether or not there is any real logic behind the demand. It is high time that we recognised that university is not, and should not be, for all. Some are suited for it, many, even most, are not; some subjects are properly taught in a university, most are not. Having a degree a has become the 'be-all and end-all', an end in itself, instead of concentrating on the real matter of acquiring the knowledge and learning the skills for future life and employment.

Sadly, and as long as the media and the government continues to highlight the annual 'A'-level scramble as they do, the children will still be encouraged to believe that this is the only path to enlightenment, and our society will continue to sink ever deeper in a bog of false and unfulfilled hopes and aspirations, a mire of mediocrity.