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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Drop-out teens to get extra help | Drop-out teens to get extra help |
| (about 1 hour 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 youngsters not in education, employment or training. | The government is concerned at the drag on the economy caused by more than 200,000 "Neets" - those youngsters 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. |
| The benefits system will also be changed to discourage dropping out. | The benefits system will also be changed to discourage dropping out. |
| The government wants to tackle the longstanding problem of teenagers leaving school and then failing to find a job or training. | The government wants to tackle the longstanding problem of teenagers leaving school and then failing to find a job or training. |
| Apprenticeships | Apprenticeships |
| International comparisons show that the UK has one of the worst records in the industrialised world for the proportion of 16 year olds dropping out of education and training. | International comparisons show that the UK has one of the worst records in the industrialised world for the proportion of 16 year olds dropping out of education and training. |
| The plans to be outlined by the government for England are designed to provide more incentives to stay in education and training - and to introduce disincentives for leaving. | The plans to be outlined by the government for England are designed to provide more incentives to stay in education and training - and to introduce disincentives for leaving. |
| The government's answer outlined today is part carrot, part stick BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/11/a_neet_problem.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full The leaving age for education will be raised to 18 - with the threat of fines or community service from 2013 for non-compliance. | |
| And it is expected that there will be tighter restrictions on claiming benefits for those who have not been in education or training. | And it is expected that there will be tighter restrictions on claiming benefits for those who have not been in education or training. |
| There will be an attempt to identify at an early age those youngsters who, through drug or alcohol misuse or pregnancy, might become part of the "Neets culture". | There will be an attempt 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 to offer them advice about their future plans. | They will be assigned counsellors to offer them advice about their future plans. |
| There will also be an expansion in the number of apprenticeships available - with an additional 90,000 places on top of the existing 150,000. | There will also be an expansion in the number of apprenticeships available - with an additional 90,000 places on top of the existing 150,000. |
| Flexibility | Flexibility |
| And there will be a more flexible approach to when youngsters can start courses, with plans for more to be available from January for those who failed to register in September. | And there will be a more flexible approach to when youngsters can start courses, with plans for more to be available from January for those who failed to register in September. |
| 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 Send us your comments | 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 Send us your comments |
| In a speech to the Fabian Society in London, Mr Balls emphasised the importance of changing attitudes towards the importance of education for this age group. | In a speech to the Fabian Society in London, Mr Balls emphasised the importance of changing attitudes towards the importance of education for this age group. |
| "We need to start now by engendering a culture change in young people, their parents and the education and employment system through creating the balance of rights and responsibilities that underpin a higher compulsory leaving age," said Mr Balls. | "We need to start now by engendering a culture change in young people, their parents and the education and employment system through creating the balance of rights and responsibilities that underpin a higher compulsory leaving age," said Mr Balls. |
| "We need to intensify support so that long-term Neets are offered a way back into work or education. I look forward to a time when no young person will be long-term Neet." | "We need to intensify support so that long-term Neets are offered a way back into work or education. I look forward to a time when no young person will be long-term Neet." |
| 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. |