ABSTRACT
COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE standard and extent of work-related education and training in the UK and other countries (by OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, for example) indicate fewer people entering training or higher education in the UK. Despite a 50 per cent target for participation in higher education, this is lower than many other countries. The immediate reaction to adverse comparisons is, quite reasonably, to examine ways to increase participation and to improve the quality of provision. The problem is that this response doesn’t take into account the underpinning reasons for apparently low participation rates.
