NVQs need a debate

THE government is not paying the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Pounds 5 million a year to draft occupational standards with industry (THES, June 19). Updating national occupational standards is funded by a continuing levy on NVQ certification.

Neither is the QCA laying down the content of vocational degrees. Standards are agreed by employers, but submitted to QCA and the Scottish Qualifications Authority for final approval. It would be odd if vocational degrees were developed in isolation from the relevant occupational standards, but that choice is up to higher education.

Nick Tate Chief executive Qualifications and Curriculum Authority