I would have thought it would make more economic sense to extend the course make it more encompassing equipping students with a greater knowledge not only of procedures but of how the whole system works prior to sending them to units this should also mean any failures were down to not being suitable rather than the possibility they didn't have enough time to learn what they need to.
The old courses had a much greater pass rate, recourses were not the norm as more passed their exams. Not everything that was done in the past was bad i would say it was an improvement of todays courses but with bean counters in charge its all about de skilling not producing a rounded student ATCO.