Maybe the posters are just being sarcastic about the NVQ process.

(building) site banter??  

I've come across this sort of thing and it's not just restricted to tradesmen. A couple of years ago I worked with an NVQ6 CSCS black card holding contracts manager who was taken on shortly after i started with that firm.

A few weeks later it became clear that he was as much use as a chocolate teapot. It turned out that he had grossly exagerated on his CV (come on, we've all done it to some extent!) but, most alarmingly, we found out that he had essentially bought his NVQ from an unscrupilous provider and that he had maybe 10% of the relevant skills and experience needed for it.

I've heard (albeit anecdotal) stories of similar goings on with IPAF, PASMA, SSSTS/SMSTS etc. Fake cards/certs are one thing but genuine ones which have been issued but not "earnt" are a completely differnt ball game. Quite worrying but i really don't see how it can be stopped?

For myself, I will not teach the 'Domestic Electrical Installer’ courses any more.  The level needed to pass is so low that it was embarrassing, the training facilities in some places is rubbish.  To this day I'm wondering how these people got away with it.

At one exam (C&G 2392 practical) one chap came in, and, in his hand he had crib notes.  I explained that no notes were allowed in the examination room but is seemed that the training people (read management who sold him the course) were happy with this.  I read the notes (both sheets) and explained that as the examiner I would prefer it if he just did as I had trained him.  

Having spent a few thousand pounds on the course he insisted that he did what the course managers promised him and indeed the manager insisted I carried on.

I'm happy to say that there were serious mistakes on both sheets of notes and the gentleman failed.  Ops. Should I have pointed out the mistakes on his notes?  Not a chance.

In my humble opinion, these 'short courses' are used to fill in the void where apprentices should be.  What have we now?  Half-trained' electricians masquerading as qualified, skilled workers.

The so-called Part P is simply a waste of time and the public rely on 'Trust a Trade'.  What trade?

Happy days

Bob,

Knowing the posters, there is a lot of mickey taking in the intent of those posts.

There are very few of them that beleive that the NVQ is any use, it is just too easy to fake, and use the work of others, you can even buy ready made electrical NVQ3 portfolios on eBay.

It is just what these guys believe goes on because of the quality of people they come across.

It just seems to those of us who are in the industry and have our eyes open, that the whole NVQ thing is a farce.

Not a Vaild Qualification is one phrase that has been coined, because it is simply just so easy to falsify, and the training providers, as you know, are only interested in bums on seats and pass rates.  (Well not all of them, but a lot of them.)