Archive for March, 2009
Short-selling our most precious assets
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 16/03/2009
Over the last decade the government has made a number of attempts to revolutionise the teaching profession, some less successful than others. The most recent proposition is particularly questionable. The plan is to implement a ‘fast track’ teacher training course, in which candidates are fully trained and working in the classroom within six months. As if this was not controversial enough, it is said to be geared towards ex-City workers. Read the rest of this entry »
Will the EU achieve the job targets set by the Lisbon Treaty?
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 13/03/2009
The Annual European Growth and Jobs Monitor says that the economic downturn has compromised the economic growth and employment goals envisaged in the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, writes Kyial Arabaeva. The report says that “Declines in growth rate and labour productivity will be followed by deteriorations in employment and public finances”.
The dangers of iGP
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 10/03/2009
I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at the government’s latest gimmick in public service reform: government-sponsored websites on which people can rate their school, GP practice or nanny. For now, I will settle for outlining four points specific to healthcare:
Continued at healthpolicyinsight.com
Subsidiarity in action
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 10/03/2009
The Charity ‘Age Concern England’ brought a case to the British High Court to challenge the British law that empowers employers to sack somebody when they reach retirement age – 65 years old, writes Kyial Arabaeva. The Charity is urging the UK Government to abolish the mandatory retirement age.
Why are so many heads rolling?
Posted by Anastasia de Waal in Education on 09/03/2009
On Friday the Times Educational Supplement brought to our attention the numbers of secondary school head teachers removed from their posts last year: a staggering 150. The article claims that it is generally heads of challenging schools not ‘turning their schools around fast enough’ who have suffered. Surely with this kind of ‘pro-active’ behaviour the British state school system should be safely on its way to excellence. However, some might say this sudden proliferation of head teachers losing their jobs is deeply alarming.
‘Toxic dependency’ and the NHS
Posted by James Gubb in Health on 05/03/2009
This email spun its way into my inbox from a consultant working in the NHS, following our discussion around AHSCs last week. It may well be a controversial view, but a thought-provoking one nonetheless:
“It was fascinating to hear your guests unanimous in their conviction that the NHS needs a fundamental re-think if it is to survive and compete internationally. Some mention was made of the predicted reduction in the health budget forcing the NHS to change its way of doing things; i.e. greater parsimony, waste reduction, amalgamation and partnerships, reduction of service duplication etc. One of the speakers also ventured that more radical changes to NHS culture and resource allocation will be resisted by management and politicians.
However, in my view this is only part of the problem.