Discussion paper on TAA04's "Fitness for Purpose"
Background
Since the publication of TAA04 Training and Assessment Training Package in November 2004, there has been considerable discussion concerning the Certificate IV’s "fitness for purpose."
This is not surprising as the Certificate IV qualification is mandated in the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) as the required training qualification in Australian VET. Thousands of VET practitioners have gained or are undertaking this qualification and we can expect this growth in numbers of people holding the Certificate to substantially increase in the near future.
The introduction of the Certificate has been blighted by the perception that it is not rigorous enough; it can be gained with a few days work! On the other hand it is claimed that the qualification is too rigorous; that it is pitched at Diploma level and includes questionable or irrelevant content.
During 2008 IBSA conducted consultations on the Certificate IV qualification and has recently made some important enhancements to the qualification, but it has not changed in any significant degree its structure or design.
A discussion paper to consider TAA40104’s "fitness for purpose"
IBSA recently commissioned a discussion paper to consider some issues concerning the Certificate IV qualification. Specifically we asked the following questions:
- Given the centrality of the TAA Certificate IV
qualification to the VET quality assurance system (AQTF 2007) and its role as
a basic training qualification in VET, is the qualification design appropriate
to these purposes?
- Does the design and content of the core units of
competency provide an adequate basis for training and assessing in the VET
sector?
- Is there an appropriate balance between units
concerned with delivery and those concerned with assessment?
- Is there an appropriate balance between core and
elective units?
- Does the qualification cover an appropriate range of
knowledge and skills for training and assessing in the VET sector?
- Given the overriding need for a standards based approach to VET qualifications, is the competency based approach the best way of identifying and describing the standards for training and assessing in the VET sector?
The discussion paper has been prepared by David McRae, a
consultant in education for many years. David’s work has been almost exclusively
concerned with school level education, but he was chosen to develop the paper
precisely because he brings ‘fresh’ eyes to the issues and has a good
understanding of the principles of competency based training and teacher
education.
In fact David has analysed the qualification in a close and
"non-political" sense and has provided a technical solution to what he sees as
the major design flaws. If you agree with his analysis, his solution is
certainly relatively straightforward.
IBSA’s hope is that this paper will provide a foundation for a
discussion of the qualifications fitness for purpose.
Contact
Robert Bluer
Industry Manager
Phone: 03 9815 7000
Email: robert@ibsa.org.au
|
