Your letter is, I am sure, a cry from the heart that could be echoed across the country by everyone who requires the attention of a qualified plumber, chippie, sparky, or brickie.
In desperation, the customer often makes do with a job done by a cowboy, because cowboys are out there in shedloads.

And why? Because, as you say, the lawyers, timeservers, and perpetual students who run parliament have no comprehension at all of trade qualifications.

It is clear that if he put his mind to it your son could pick up some sort of degree, and stick BA or BSc after his name. Who cares? Why can a ten year old with the right sort of A levels go to Oxford university and pick up a Bachelor's degree by the age of 13, but your lad has to wait before a suitable place of education will look at him?

Search me! What is needed so much is for half of the places masquerading as universities either to shut their doors and go home or change to serious trade training leading to useful qualifications.

The country actually needs tradesmen by the tens of thousands. I doubt if it needs half the number of graduates. I read recently in the FT that the average age of qualified tradespeople is now in the mid 50s.

I have photocopied the page from Security Installer and sent a copy to Mssrs Blair, Howard, and Kennedy. Maybe I should send another to Ian Paisley, following the recent NI elections! No wonder skilled young people leave this country.

Best wishes to you and your son.

Source

Security Installer

Postscript

Eric Richards TD FInstD, (Private Health Insurance Specialist) elwin@dircon.co.uk