The main reason is because many schools, perhaps more concerned about league tables than the education of their students, have been pushing the BTECs and NVQs because they have helped them rapidly climb league tables. Some schools offered virtually no GCSEs any more.
I always thought it odd that these vocational qualifications weren't allowed to stand on their own merits rather than have to be "equivalent" to GCSEs. Why, when they became popular in schools, wasn't an extra column not simply added to the league tables? One column to show their GCSE success rate, another column for their vocational qualification success rate? isn't that simple?
The other problem is that some of the "equivalent" statuses were generous, to put it lightly.
Now, I accept my experience is in the field of music and the performing arts but some BTECs were given the equivalent of 4 GCSEs for work at a lesser level academically and practically. It was a total nonsense and a misguided and badly thought through piece of politics by Blair's government, and, of course, David Blunkett, who were keen to promote vocational qualifications, so they put them on offer. Take one qualification and get 2, 3, 4 for free.
Vocational qualifications have their place but are limiting as, while some are prepared for a career, others find they have paths cut off because, haven done a BTEC, they are unable to go on to A-level or university. So the school benefits by harming the future prospects of their more academic students. Genius!
I'm glad to see the end of GCSE equivalents for vocational qualifications. Let's hope that those same vocational qualifications are now made more worthwhile and demanding - that is the way to sell them and give them credibility, not cheapening them and making them a laughing stock.
