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Do you think children need qualification certificates for being able to wash their hands, dress themselves?

and make a cup of tea? London, August 15 (ANI): British children are being given qualifications for being able to wash their hands, dress themselves, and make a cup of tea to children by an examination board. These qualifications are said to be among an astonishing array of "ridiculous" certificates being handed out to youngsters by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, the largest of the three English examination boards. The 100-plus list also officially recognises children aged between 11 and 14 who can make a cold drink, operate a vending machine and use a self-service cafe as well use a vacuum cleaner, polish and dust, and comb and brush their hair. The AQA recently awarded a certificate to a teenage boy for being able to catch a bus. Its award scheme is being operated by an estimated 1,000 youth-associated services nationwide. The programme is Government-funded, with courses costing up to 20,000 pounds. Each certificate costs 10 pounds. "When I heard that someone had received a certificate because they could catch a bus I was absolutely astonished but accepted it as just a one-off," the Daily Express quoted Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, as saying."Now it seems there are many more awards for equally insignificant tasks which leaves me almost lost for words. It is ridiculous and beyond belief and just shows how education in this country has reached rock-bottom. It is a national disgrace," he added. For a hand-washing qualification, a child has to wash hands with soap and water, with assistance where necessary, dry their own hands, and carry out the process on three different occasions. To get a certificate for making a cup of tea a child has to successfully fill, plug in and switch on a kettle, wait for it to boil, pour hot water into the cup, remove the tea bag from the cup with a spoon, add milk and put in sugar as required. Edit: Heres the link Megan: http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090815/959/tod-uk-exam-board-giving-qualifications.html

Public Comments

1. Damn, one year too old. I'm 15 and damn good at dressing myself!
2. I don't even know where to start... Who thought this was a good idea? I mean... rewarded kids for being able to do tasks they shouldn't even need to think about? It's actually embarrassing that someone is doing this. Edit: Do you have a link to that article?
3. I think children and adults need qualification certificates to confirm that they know how to wash their hands! It's amazing how many adults you see in public toilets who come out of the loo, do their hair and go, without even touching the tap or soap. Then they touch the doors, clothes or other items in the shop, with the same hand that they used to wipe their backside. No wonder we have so many flus and viruses around!
4. which idiot do we taxpayers pay to come up with such marvelous ideas
5. I will cheer for the British people who want to free themselves from big government tyranny and tax oppression.
6. how thick do they think young people are these days, this is just ridiculous, the goverment are losing their minds, treat people with some respect for gods sake
7. I can see these qualifications having value for children who have, say, learning disabilities or some form of physical handicap, and who would benefit from the self esteem boost and recognition of achievement a certificate like this might give them. Tasks like catching a bus, going to the toilet and washing themselves, making a cup of tea etc. are often NOT "insignificant" tasks for disabled children. It may be a real challenge to them, and a major barrier to achieving independence as an adult. For an able-bodied child who is "average" or intelligent, though, it's a patronising waste of paper. In fact the AQA pretty much admits this to be the case: "For students with very specific needs, something as simple as catching the bus would be a genuine achievement, while for other students, it would not be an appropriate unit to take." Ridiculous braying Tories like Nick Seaton may fail to grasp the subtlety of the issue, however. And topcat1: yes, I'm also amazed at how many non-disabled adults (of my gender anyway) fail to wash their hands after going to the toilet, even after a #2. I personally think they should install automatic doors, automatic taps etc. in all toilets, so I don't have to contact any surface these filth mongers have touched.
8. Are they making Step-ford Children?
9. There are a few that would fail where I live. Give them something other than a hooded top and tracky bottoms and the are lost.
10. Seems like a spectacular waste of time and paper to me.
11. I am truly lost for words.
12. I wonder whos idea that was it is taking the mickey out of these youngsters in my eyes
13. This is just stupid! Why the hell would you need a certificate for that? What's next, needing a certificate for taking a piss in the public restroom. The world has actually gone mad, and I really do not want to live in a world like this.