If a citizen of the UK wants to have further education then it must be realistic and achievable. There should be every opportunity for that individual to pass the grade/exam regardless of extranuous varables.

What do i mean?

If a college or university has a recognised qualification course, then that should be achievable by all who attend. For example, if I attend a City & Guilds course then that qualification should be attainable. That should be a right by all in further education.

However, there needs to be the removal of certain criteria that could effect the result of the students qulification because of variables beyond his/her control. That if one was told to do a film on art, then if the student cannot get permission to film in the Public Art Gallery, for example, then why should the student's result be effected. Unfair! All should have equal chance to do the subject regardless. Like film traffic, drama, any other thing that is attainable to do. If the student was told to read a certain book but it was out of print and only one copy existed in the Library and it was booked out, then the student would suffer his/her grading. This should not be allowed to effect the judging of their ability to pass the course if they tried all reasonable efforts ... you get what i mean?

I am taking a City & Guilds Video Production course. We were told to do a documentary. We, as a group, chose a subject. Then we had to contact people to interview. Not easy. Spent a lot of time and money ringing round - "Sorry, we're too busy (for students) have you tried ringing such and such-a-body...(more money, more time)" - not the pulling power of the BBC.

If all refuse to be interviewed, then is my C&G grade is effected - no proper video? 16 weeks wasted on a what might be an unrealistic goal set by the Education Department or college.

To further the stress, the tutor takes most of the filming time to go through our tapes. We had 4 Tuesdays (4 days) to film and last Tuesday morning was spent taking about what was right or wrong about each shot - waisting precious filming time! Then we were told not to focus on one thing - like we had time to move on to something else! UNREALISTIC.

It's frustrating and annoying. Then if you are filming with other students that are not as enthusiastic as you and spoil the filming because of apathy, lethargic or just an egghead, you could end up failing through no fault of your own.

There needs to be a change whereas anyone studying has EQUAL rights to pass that grade using his/her ability and not downgraded or failed because of outside variables beyond the students control. Each subject should be realistic and achievable.

The Government, I understand, is re-thinking it's further eduction policy. Thank God they realise there's a problem!