Alistair Arkley column

Mar 1 2006 By Alistair Arkley, The Journal

We are in the `choice' era of politics. The word appears in virtually every speech by every party leader, but rarely does anyone ask the question - whose choice?

It's the question which appears to be missing from the debate over education. Both Government and Opposition assure us that they are determined to give more choice to parents, governors and teachers over the way schools are run.

But what I wonder about the people who should be the most important of all in our education system -the pupils? I do not see much evidence that anyone gives them much of a choice.

Take for example the debate over selection. We are told selection is a bad thing because, in the past, it was a key element in the `them and us' society, preventing many children from fulfilling their potential.

But I fear that knee-jerk opposition to selection can result in a lack of choice for youngsters - driving many down an `academic' path which may not suit their needs.

There are some signs of recognition that what matters is not a narrow debate about selection but genuine choice and opportunity for all … take for example the news that a local City Academy is developing a major facility for vocational education and training.

It's not so long ago that when I was discussing with a senior Government official the increasing importance of the leisure industries in our region, his response was that we did not want `skivvy jobs'.

He apparently could not recognise that someone, for example, running a successful pub with a million pound a year turnover and employing significant numbers of people, might be getting more reward - both personal and financial - than working on a production line for one of the foreign companies who have received so much money to move into our region. At the heart of the problem is that other political buzz word - respect. For example who should earn more respect - a brain surgeon, a plumber or someone running a pub?

Shouldn't we be making it clear to young people that what's important is that everyone has the right to contribute to society in a way which they enjoy - and to be respected for that contribution?

If you give people things they can - and want - to do, they'll probably do it better.

Alistair Arkley is chairman of the Northern Business Forum and chairman of New Century Inns