DEMOS

The proposal of the government to introduce a baccalaureate seems at odds with their other education policies - the concentration on students achieving C grades at GCSE and wider participation in tertiary education as well as broadening vocational qualifications. I took International Baccalaureate and it provides a far better profile of a student's abilities, covering not only scientific and arts subjects but also creative and sporting activities and social service, as well as an extended research project and a course in philosophy. It separates out students at the higher end of the spectrum, thus making selection for top universities easier, but equally making it too tough for most 18 year olds. This would not chime well with current higher education policy and would add to the polarisation of universities into first and second division. Many people have challenged me about the worth of my qualification, most notably teachers. One described the qualification as 'retrograde' - an odd criticism for a diploma which requires candidates to actively engage in the world around them. I think teachers are hostile to baccalaureate exams because they require a lot of both students and teachers. It was interesting to note that the proposal did not include the dictat that students should study languages, humanities and the sciences, something the new system of A levels was meant to remedy and didn't. Perhaps the British are singularly incapable after sixteen of grasping both scientific and humanities-based concepts?

I want to sat for an exams for this year 2004,so i want to know where to got to.