I DON’T understand why there’s so much fuss being made over government plans to require English and maths at GCSE to get a student loan.
These requirements are nothing new. More than 40 years ago I had to pass English and maths O-Level (GCSE equivalent) to secure a place on a one-year journalism course. I was hopeless at maths and had to take the lower standard CSE twice to get a grade one - the O-Level equivalent of grade C.
I also needed these qualifications alongside my A-levels for entry to university.
Later on, maths and English GCSE were required again for a teacher training course. It's not that I agree with it - I don't. People have different strengths and shouldn't have to rely on a subject they struggle with. But the rule has been around a long time, so why the outcry?
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