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A testing time for cabbies
UP TO one in five taxi drivers in Bournemouth are failing to meet the most basic standards in English and maths, according to the council.
Since the end of 2006, taxi drivers have been required to take a BTEC qualification in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire.
The course includes a language and numeracy requirement, that between 15 and 20 per cent are failing to meet.
Despite this, 98 per cent are still being issued with licences at the end of the seven-week course, having been given learning support.
The test includes questions such as what is "2 + 2" and "My cat was ill. I took him to the (pet/vet/ill/dog).
Yesterday, council officers decided that all new drivers must pass the BTEC qualification before they apply to the council for a license.
At the moment, they are only given the test after completing the council's application process, which costs up to £400.
Licensing officer Keith Harris said: "This will ensure drivers are given more time to work with learning support officers to improve their skills.
"It also means they won't go all the way through an expensive application, only to find they can't drive because they don't have the necessary skills level in literacy and maths.
"The current process places those without the requisite skills at a disadvantage."
So far, 500 of Bournemouth's 1,200 licensed drivers have taken the new qualification. Ten failed to pass.
"I get regular calls from current drivers saying they have never been so insulted in all their lives, but the skills problem was something we needed to address, and in doing so we've identified other needs, such as a high rate of dyslexia, which we are able to help with."
March 2007 Dorset Echo
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