The Editor, Sir:

The idea of remaining at school until 18 years old is very good, but with emphasis on vocational formation. The Government should consider handing over that programme to HEART/NTA which liaises with employers.

Latin American countries, with the inputs of the ILO, did that from the '70s.s, not treating them as schools (school is for children).

Their joint curricular in the vocational occupations were translated into English at the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI), under our Ministry of Labour, again with ILO input, for use in the Caribbean and VTDI shot up into HEART.

Has the expertise

HEART already has the expertise to carry out all aspects of such a programme and for treating those cohorts. The Government should consider putting HEART back in with the Ministry of Labour as the ILO had designated vocational training for jobs (not vocational education) as a function of labour.

As a former vocational teacher in our only Kingston Senior School (of blessed memory) and instructor at college, high and technical schools, also a principal in trade schools and director of training programmes far and wide, I applaud the idea, but ask the government to keep it out of school. Those cohorts consider themselves as 'age-up'. Let's keep them as an integral part of the world of work.

I am, etc.,

STEVE S DYER

Mandeville P .O.