National Targets for Education and training

The Government endorsed revised, more demanding National Targets for Education and Training in the 1995 Competitiveness White Paper. The Targets have been extended to include the attainment of core skills and higher level skills. The Targets aim to provide the clear focus needed for the efforts of all involved in education and training to raise expectations and attainment. The Targets are challenging. By the year 2000, the aim is for:

• by age 19, 85% of young people to achieve five GCSEs at grade C or above, an Intermediate GNVQ or an NVQ level 2;
• 75% of young people to achieve level 2 competence in communication, numeracy and IT by age 19; and 35% to achieve level 3 competence in these core skills by age 21; and
• by age 21, 60% of young people to achieve two GCE A levels, an Advanced GNVQ or an NVQ level 3.

Schools, colleges and universities have a key role to play in setting their own targets, and Training and Enterprise Councils in setting local targets, within the framework of the National Targets. The Government has encouraged schools and colleges to set their own individual targets for increasing student attainment year by year.

The National Targets also include Targets for the workforce. The aim, by the year 2000 is for:

• 60% of the workforce to be qualified to NVQ level 3, Advanced GNVQ or two GCE A level standard.

The need to improve the skills of the existing workforce as well as develop the potential of young people is at the heart of the Government's strategy for achieving a world-class workforce. Employers, individuals, training providers and the Government must work in partnership if these Targets are to be achieved.