21st May 2004, 09:11 PM
David,
The problem of having standards nationally recognised is a thorny one, none of the currently existing national bodies, with the possible exception of EH, are suitable to administer such a scheme as all have differing agendas and interests. The IFA being self-elected and self-regulating, despite partial recognition within the industry, has no statutory teeth when it comes to defining standards and grade levels, any guidelines which they issue are free to be ignored by any organisation or individual who for whatever reason decline to apply for membership. SCAUM and ALGAO represent narrow sectors within archaeology and the CBA is the mouthpiece of the industry to the public. We need an independant body representative of all the sub-professions within archaeology, an organisation which is seen to be impartial, all-inclusive and has effective control of who is allowed to operate as an archaeologist, at what level and what the renumeration should be for each level. Statutory legislation controls many aspects of archaeology and DCMS effectively controls pay levels at the MoL so the precedent is there for Government intervention, maybe a chartered organisation administered by EH with civil service pay scales could be a way forward.
Comments please!
The problem of having standards nationally recognised is a thorny one, none of the currently existing national bodies, with the possible exception of EH, are suitable to administer such a scheme as all have differing agendas and interests. The IFA being self-elected and self-regulating, despite partial recognition within the industry, has no statutory teeth when it comes to defining standards and grade levels, any guidelines which they issue are free to be ignored by any organisation or individual who for whatever reason decline to apply for membership. SCAUM and ALGAO represent narrow sectors within archaeology and the CBA is the mouthpiece of the industry to the public. We need an independant body representative of all the sub-professions within archaeology, an organisation which is seen to be impartial, all-inclusive and has effective control of who is allowed to operate as an archaeologist, at what level and what the renumeration should be for each level. Statutory legislation controls many aspects of archaeology and DCMS effectively controls pay levels at the MoL so the precedent is there for Government intervention, maybe a chartered organisation administered by EH with civil service pay scales could be a way forward.
Comments please!