| By :
Martin Hofschroer
People studying vocational courses have been told that the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) will continue to finance existing qualifications. The SFA confirmed that it will still fund qualifications on the existing National Qualifications Framework (NQF) before they are transferred to the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Many students on electrical courses and plumbing courses were concerned about the changes to the qualifications framework as they were unsure whether they would be able to advance from a NVQ Level 2 to an NVQ Level 3, reported the Guardian. Geoff Russell, of the SFA, wrote to the Guardian to reassure those studying on plumbing courses and electrical courses that the agency will try to make the transition as smooth as possible. He said: "No existing NQF (National Qualification Framework) qualification will have funding turned off unless an appropriate QCF offer is available now. "In some cases...we will fund both the 'old' and 'new' versions of a particular qualification. We are doing this to aid the transition, particularly where the new framework qualification is significantly different in its content from the NQF qualification." Students and apprentices taking plumbing courses and electrical courses which have not been converted onto the QCF yet will be able to progress with their training as funding has been assured. Keith Marshall, Summit Skills chief executive, acknowledged that more could be done to communicate the changes brought in by the QCF but explained that the process has been very complicated. He told the Guardian: "We're developing a completely new suite of qualifications based on up-to-date employment standards. That's not straightforward. But I recognise communications could have been better, and people are edgy." The UK Vocational Qualification Programme Reform Board has said that all existing NQF will be switched over onto the QCF by the deadline of December 1st 2010, while an estimated 80 per cent will be transferred by August. People who want to embark on a career as an electrician or plumber should be aware that there is no quick and easy entry into the industry. It is crucial to undertake a proper sequence of approved and accredited NVQ plumbing courses and electrical courses at the required level to become fully qualified and competent. Potential electricians should take the City & Guilds NVQ 2330 Level 2 course as it will allow them to progress onto the NVQ 2356 level 3. People wishing to train as a plumber should start with the City & Guilds NVQ 6129 level 2 as a foundation to advance onto NVQ level 3.
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