6 month delay is a small price to pay for certainty.

The Government has bowed to pressure from the Association of Learning Providers and delayed the introduction of Functional Skills in Apprenticeships only till next year.

Apparently, it's because the ALP members such as FE Colleges don't want to see pass rates go down and they aren't well enough prepared for Functional Skills (even after three years of pilot running).

The good thing is that it's definitely going to happen in 6 months, it's just a shame that apprentices going through the system now will leave with qualifications that are less valued by employers than Functional Skills.

What I find frustrating is this determination that because it's harder it's a bad thing - for whom exactly is my question? It certainly isn't worse for the students because they get a much better, more rigorous qualification, so who is worried about this - and why?