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| 'At risk' teens to get extra help | 'At risk' teens to get extra help |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Teenagers in England at risk of leaving school without going into jobs or further education are to be assigned special counsellors. | Teenagers in England at risk of leaving school without going into jobs or further education are to be assigned special counsellors. |
| The government is concerned at the drag on the economy caused by more than 200,000 "Neets" - those not in education, employment or training. | The government is concerned at the drag on the economy caused by more than 200,000 "Neets" - those not in education, employment or training. |
| This week's Queen's Speech will include a bill to raise the education leaving age from 16 to 18. | This week's Queen's Speech will include a bill to raise the education leaving age from 16 to 18. |
| It will be backed by a threat of fines or community service - but not prison. | It will be backed by a threat of fines or community service - but not prison. |
| By 2013, the penalties will apply to youngsters who do not comply with a new legal requirement to stay on in education and training. | By 2013, the penalties will apply to youngsters who do not comply with a new legal requirement to stay on in education and training. |
| But the Association of Colleges is warning ministers that enforcement will not be possible until local authorities' registration systems are able to identify the young people involved. | But the Association of Colleges is warning ministers that enforcement will not be possible until local authorities' registration systems are able to identify the young people involved. |
| "We are concerned that the current IT systems may not be ready for the task of registration," the association said. | "We are concerned that the current IT systems may not be ready for the task of registration," the association said. |
| "A clear statutory framework is needed in the legislation but the policy should be to use it sparingly until the IT systems are in place." | "A clear statutory framework is needed in the legislation but the policy should be to use it sparingly until the IT systems are in place." |
| Flexibility | Flexibility |
| The government's strategy aims to identify at an early age those youngsters who, through drug or alcohol misuse or pregnancy, might become part of the Neets culture. | The government's strategy aims to identify at an early age those youngsters who, through drug or alcohol misuse or pregnancy, might become part of the Neets culture. |
| They will be assigned counsellors who will attempt to point them in the right direction. | They will be assigned counsellors who will attempt to point them in the right direction. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Until the kids see hope and a change in society, you can keep them in school till they are 65 - it won't make an ounce of difference Gary Higgins, Liverpool, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3777&edition=1">Send us your comments Other aspects of the strategy include making learning more flexible, by allowing those over 16 to register for college courses after the start of the autumn term. | |
| And the so-called September guarantee will be extended to those aged 17. | And the so-called September guarantee will be extended to those aged 17. |
| The guarantee involves schools and councils having to ensure they make pupils aware of their post-16 opportunities before they leave school. | The guarantee involves schools and councils having to ensure they make pupils aware of their post-16 opportunities before they leave school. |
| The Conservatives argue that the age group in question should be those aged 16 to 24. | The Conservatives argue that the age group in question should be those aged 16 to 24. |
| This would mean there were more than a million Neets. | This would mean there were more than a million Neets. |