Issues faced by mature black women returning to education include past negative experiences of schooling, threats to their personal relationships and other social pressures, psychological barriers, and balancing educational costs with their basic needs. (SK)

Accreditation of adult learning raises two issues: (1) whether accrediting processes are the right ones and (2) which educational values and principles underlie them. Accreditation based on flexible accumulation and transfer of achievements is needed to document the vital learning outcomes of adult education. (SK)

The author describes development of certification standards and an integrated training package for entry-level retail employees. Evaluation methods are discussed. (CH)

The article examines the three proposals put forward by the Schools Council for Curriculum and Examination to change the examination structure for school leavers in Great Britain from the perspective of industry and commerce. (MW)

Provides a historical review and assessment of Britain's General Certificate of Education and Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Projects the implications of the GCSE for teachers and students and presents challenging views on several of its principles. (ML)

The article examines the three proposals put forward by the Schools Council for Curriculum and Examinations to change the examination structure for school leavers in Great Britain: the 16-plus examination, the Certificate of Extended Education, and the 18-plus examination. (MW)

If Britain is to deliver a genuine framework for lifelong learning in the 21st century, a qualifications system must be developed to support this framework. The National Qualifications Framework may not be fit for the purpose of supporting lifelong learning. A policy on lifelong learning must explicitly connect with qualifications reform to have…

This book explores in detail the ways in which the assessment and accreditation of prior and current experiential learning is being practiced in higher education, further education, community and voluntary provision, training organizations and employment, provision for the unemployed, and updating and retraining. It is arranged in three parts.…

The paper explains the role of the Schools Council for the Curriculum and Examinations and how it functions in relation to the education system, discusses areas of reform, and presents a brief review of the Schools Councils proposals for a new examination structure. (MW)

A structure for the accreditation of Britain's third Youth Training Scheme outcome, ability to transfer, must be developed immediately. By all indications, the outcome cannot be graded in a way that matches the levels proposed for the National Vocational Qualification structure. Instead, ability to transfer should be seen as a component of…

This document explores the rationale and technical issues underlying the proposal for a common credit framework in Great Britain. This volume, aimed at senior institutional managers, curriculum managers, and practitioners, offers advice on levels, credit value, and award of credit within the framework proposal. A list of terminology is found at…

A project examined how General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) are evolving and how far their development is in line with the objectives originally set out for them by the government. Information was collected from institutions in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which began offering GNVQs in 1993-94. The survey examined the five…

Research tested the hypothesis that preemployment vocational education is a major contributor to enterprise productivity, because it raises workers' skills that are then applied in more effective work practices. An intercountry comparisons approach involving Britain and Germany and Britain and the Netherlands or France identified medium-sized…

Britain's General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) represent a new qualification that offers students a broadly based preparation for employment as well as an accepted route to further and higher education. They are of equal standing with academic qualifications at the same level and are designed to fit between and to complement the…

A DIRECTORY IS PRESENTED OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN ADULT EDUCATION (INTERPRETED TO INCLUDE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, RURAL AND URBAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING, LABOR EDUCATION, INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT) IN CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, AND THE COMMONWEALTH AT LARGE. THE DEGREES OR CERTIFICATES…