22ANDUK

Bring back grammar schools to tackle 'education disgrace' says business chief.

A business leader today called for the reintroduction of grammar schools to tackle the "national disgrace" of young people leaving education without decent qualifications.

David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the education system was creating two nations - of haves and have nots.

"This is the last chance saloon. If we again fail to improve the performance of our schools I believe it is time to look at the reintroduction of selection at the age of 13, to reintroduce grammar schools which were the great escape route for the working class in post-war Britain until they were dismembered in the 1970s and also to reintroduce technical schools, not metal work and woodwork but IT, specialist engineering and science."

Mr Frost warned that unless the position improved he feared people leaving school with minimal qualifications would find it increasingly difficult to get work.

He said many workers arriving in this country from Eastern Europe had better skills and a better work ethic than local people.

One businessman told Mr Frost recently: "I had forgotten how much work one person could do in a day until I started employing Poles."

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