Archive for January 7th, 2011
UK students could end academic education at 14
(The Guardian): Students will be able to leave academic education at 14 in favour of vocational training at specialist colleges under coalition plans. Up to 70 technical schools teaching practical skills could be opened before the next election, according to Lord Baker of Dorking, the former Tory education secretary who is heading the scheme. Baker said the schools were not a small experiment but a movement designed to tackle a shortage of young people with vocational skills. Critics fear it would create a two-tier system, with less able students at risk of being pushed into vocational courses and pupils forced to make important decisions about their future at too young an age.
Kittiwake closed on first day
(CNS): Following the excitement of Wednesday’s events, just over one day after the Kittiwake was sent to its watery resting place off the coast of Seven Mile Beach the new dive attraction has been forced to close before it has opened to the wider public due to the Nor’wester that blew into Cayman late Thursday afternoon. Members of the Cayman Islands tourism Association said that the contractors who were expected to work on the wreck on Thursday making the site was safe for the public to dive were unable to complete that work because of the weather. As a result Cayman’s brand new dive attraction is off limits to divers until further notice. (Photo by Elly Wray of Ocean Frontiers)
“We have been advised that the contractors have not been able to complete the moorings and preparatory work to be done at the Kittiwake site,” a spokesperson for CITA said. “We will advise the public when it is open after the weather clears and work has been completed.”
The contractors were scheduled to install moorings, remove sinking equipment and ensure the wreck was free of air-pockets allowing the vessel to settle further down on the sandy seabed.
According to the Cayman Islands official weather forecast, the Nor’wester is expected to last into the early weekend but fingers are crossed that the site will be open to licensed operators from Saturday 12noon.
For more details visit www.kittiwakecayman.com