Table I. Significant differences be

Table I. Significant differences between sample groups from questionnaire.Kanter’s (1985) vision of an office wife was not accepted by secretarial students. This was perhaps because they did not visualise that there was common ground between the supportive nature of the position of a wife and that of a secretary. The task analysis nature of NVQs was unlikely to emphasise this holistic aspect.From the biographical sections of the questionnaires it was evident that in 1991 most colleges were either running NVQs or about to introduce them, but little accreditation of prior learning was being granted.Employers stated they were willing to help employees with NVQs, but would not pay fees or offer day release so the assumption is that work-based evidence might be offered.