Hundreds of trainees on Council courses could face a fresh bombshell as the authority considers scrapping all its National Vocational Qualification courses.

A leaked report handed to the Telegraph & Argus reveals the proposal which could result in the loss of 20 jobs.

It is understood more than 200 people are currently taking NVQ courses, including child care, IT and business administration. Only electronics courses may be retained.

The possible dropping of NVQ courses follows a case last year when hundreds of people were told their qualifications were invalid and they would have to do extra work. Some had got jobs on the strength of the qualification.

Staff disciplinary hearings are in process following a damning report by the Council's internal auditors.

The Government's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is also investigating.

The Metrochange House training centre was shut and an urgent action plan put in place. But today the Council emphatically denied the new move was connected with the previous problems.

Regeneration member on the Council's Executive Committee Councillor Dave Green said they were looking for skills which were more relevant to the needs of employers .

Coun Green pledged arrangements would be made for the trainees to finish their courses.

He said the staff affected were likely to be redeployed.

Trainees told the Telegraph & Argus last year how course work had lain unmarked for months and they had received little support from trainers.

Coun Green said consultation was taking place with staff and unions, but stressed no decisions had been taken.

He added: "In preparing these proposals, the immediate need is to protect the interests of existing trainees."

He added that electronics training was becoming a priority, and the Council's call centre training unit was a good example of what could be achieved"

But deputy leader of the Tory group Coun Richard Wightman said he believed the move was connected with previous problems.

He said: "This has been a long and unhappy business, even given the other disasters of Bradford Council. At the end of the day it is the trainees who are suffering."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.