Actus writes: The apprenticeship answer?

The recent editor’s comment and Moneo column on the question of apprenticeships seemed to me to rather miss the point.  

From an optometry perspective, degree-level apprenticeships should solve many of the problems that are perceived to exist within optometry, most notably depressed salaries, oversupply of training places (combined with undersupply of placements), and staff shortages in certain parts of the country. 

The way degree apprenticeships work is employers will advertise for an apprentice optometrist or dispensing optician, recruit a suitable individual and proceed to train the individual over the following years. 

There is seemingly concern that if apprenticeships to qualify optometrists and dispensing opticians come to pass they will be provided directly by employers with no external intervention or quality control.