Improved schools = worse basic skills....?

Today's papers report that many schools are now achieving the government's target of five good GCSE's but the figures are much lower when maths and English are taken into account. Some schoolmasters encourage pupils to take easier subjects to gain a higher position for their school in league tables.

Government targets, instead of improving the education system, have had the effect of lowering standards. Many businesses find it difficult to recruit young people as they lack the basic skills. This has forced some companies to look for new recruits from overseas. The government reforms of the system have not yet produced any results and if the downward trend continues the UK is in a serious threat of losing its competitivness and economic strength its intellectual workforce has provided so far.