sigh... That is the way it is going, I am afraid.

I have a university degree and license to teach in the US. I could take some courses and get qualified in UK, but as I am not well enough to fight off the germs the little darlings spawn, I cannot teach.

So I work for County Council in non-challenging admin post, seriously under employed. This council is downsizing in a big way. Out sourcing non front line staff, and they are offering "back office" staff a government funded NVQL 2 training package, to ease the blow of having to apply for our own jobs with new "partner" (in this case IBM). At first I thought, "What and insult!" I have a degree, decade of business admin experience and am proficient in all software apps, including building complex databases and learning and using bespoke applications. Then I found out that I cannot apply because the funding is specifically for upskilling the workforce. I am overqualified for the training.

So here I am, with no viable accreditation to my name, age and health working against me and my work experience means diddly to the big corporation who will potentially be my manager. Am I afraid? Yes.   

I know someone who's daughter has severe dyslexia. She has been a nursery nurse (children's day care worker) for several years. Now she has to get a degree to continue in this job. She cannot do formal education as she has emotional scars from poor educational experience and still struggles with the disability.

Nursery nurses do not earn very much. Something on a par with retail floor staff, I guess. But the government expects her and others to take a degree and pay for it to boot? World's gone mad.