A degree with no debt that could lead to a £60,000-a-year job. What's not to like? That's Andy Burnham's pitch to the thousands of young people in Greater Manchester who don't want to go to university.
Education bosses and business leaders who have backed the proposal claim that the technical education route can lead to well-paid jobs in the fast growing creative, digital and tech sectors. However, some have said that creating a new qualification would not help break down the barriers in the education system which young people from working class backgrounds face.
It comes months after Greater Manchester's leaders signed a new devolution deal with the government, giving the mayor more influence over post-16 education. Mr Burnham now wants to launch the MBacc by September 2024. Anna Dawe, who is the principal and CEO of Wigan and Leigh College, explains that the qualifications which make up the MBacc already exist. But with such a 'vast' array of choices, the technical education system can be 'confusing' to navigate.
He promised his proposal would not be 'dumbing down' the EBacc, saying that there is 'no compromise' on including English and Maths in his alternative. But the contents of the MBacc are still up for consideration with business studies, economics, humanities, languages, literature and PE all potential options.
"I've got five brilliant universities here and they contribute so much to life in Greater Manchester. But I think even they would accept that the university route is not right for everybody – and actually people on the technical route could end up at university."