Refusing non essential training

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Hello, the situation is the employer wants the employee to do a training course. The course is non essential, ie they are not a forklift driver refusing to take their forklift licence. The employees degree covers the subject matter in far more depth than the course does anyway.

The employee would have to repay the course fee, which is which is not insignificant, if they leave within two years.

The employee is likely to leave within two years, and their new direction would render the course irrelevant.

Can the employer force the employee to do the course?

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Thanks very much for the replies. It is a non essential course that the employer thinks is a good idea. I think it will be a case of refusing to sign the repayment contract, and going to the course if they insist and will waive the repayment.