'Mandatory' training law?

[bluestar99]

Hello...I wanted to do some research into the legality of dismissal from a job based on refusal to carry out certain training scheme. Generally i'm in favour of personal development and sympathetic with employers needing to get their staff to certain standards. In the past ive done several programmes of a few days here a week there but now i and some colleagues are being asked to undertake a training programme that takes 1-2 years to complete, involves writing essay and taking an exam. From what i can tell the whole thing is a back covering exercise and is not relevant to my job so im reluctant to engage. Could i be disciplined and lose my job over this?

I will be asking these questions of my employer but i wondered what others experience knowledge of this was

thanks