Citation
(1999), "Qualified success", Work Study, Vol. 48 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.1999.07948daa.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
Qualified success
We hear a lot in the press about the dumbing down of examination qualifications. The recent discussions on broadening the 6th form curriculum have resulted in another flurry of letters to the papers from Angry of Broadstairs and Seething of Brighton suggesting that this is the thin edge of another wedge resulting in the end of civilisation as we know it. Similarly, we see lots of international league tables which purport to show that UK education does a much worse job than that of many of our competitor nations. Yet, the UK has been enjoying tremendous economic growth over the last few years - whilst many of our competitors (with allegedly better education systems) have been struggling to keep up. This means the link between education and economic success is not proven (or is at least more complicated than is often suggested) or that the comparisons made are imperfect. Perhaps the pundits should learn some of the fundamental principles of measurement. When measuring, know what it is you really want to measure! When making comparisons, always make sure you are comparing like with like!