Speed Reading — Technical Education - Level 6 — 500 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is determined to overhaul Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came to power on July the 16th. One of his key priorities is to increase access to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for the workplace. This is to address the problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been dubbed "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to reset traditional views on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as valuable as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system based on parity between academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications."

Comprehension questions
  1. What does the UK's new leader want to do to the education system?
  2. What does the UK prime minister want schoolchildren to have access to?
  3. What skills does the prime minister want 14-year-olds to start acquiring?
  4. How many young people in Britain are not in school, jobs or training?
  5. What did Mr Burnham say would fix the youth unemployment crisis?
  6. What traditional views does Andy Burnham want to reset?
  7. What does Mr Burnham want parity between in the education system?
  8. What does Burnham believe people should value as much as a hard hat?
  9. What have students been told to take to do well and be respected?
  10. Who did Mr Burnham say had been let down by the school system?

Back to the technical education lesson.

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