Overview of UK’s Education, Training and Employment Services

Profile of UK’s Young People

In 2003, there were about 2,258,000 young people of age 15-19 in UK.

Aug-Oct 2004, UK’s unemployment rate is 4.7%

For 16-17, the rate is 21.3%

For 18-24, the rate is 10.5%

The NEET

Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training

In 2003, there were about 219,000 NEET under 19, i.e. about 9.7% of the total youth population

Amongst them, 60% are unemployed and 40% are economically inactive

a report “14-19 : Opportunity and Excellence” was published. It illustrated that many young people in UK were not adjusting well in their learning and personal development. Too many young people leave learning or fail to progress. In 2001, only 73% of people age 17 were in education (UK ranked 27th out of 30 OECD countries)

How to tackle the needs of NEET

1999 New Opportunities for 16-18 NEETSet out action plan to work on NEETMajor recommendations :- extended the pilot EMA scheme - Connexions

- set up cross govt. unit to work on child poverty and youth disadvantage- set out regulations that allow 14-16 at risk youth to spend part of the week in further education or work experience

Major Responsible Government Departments and Units

Children and Young People’s Unit (CYPU)

Department of Education and Skills (EfES)

Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

Learning and Skill Council (LSC)

Children and Young People’s Unit (CYPU)

Set up in 2000

A cross-departmental body that coordinate policies that affect 0-19 year olds

Reports to the Minister for Young People and Secretary of State for Education and Skills

Department of Education and Skills (DfES)

Formerly known as Department of Education and Employment (DfEE)

DfES was created with the purpose of

- creating opportunity for children, young

people and adults

- releasing potential

- achieving excellence for all in UK

Department of Work and Pensions

To promote opportunity and independence for all

To sustain a higher proportion of people in work than ever before, while providing security for those who cannot work

To halve child poverty within a decade and eliminate it in a generation

Department of Work and Pensions

To combat poverty and promote security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners To improve the rights and opportunities for disabled people in a fair and inclusive society To modernize welfare delivery so as to improve the accessibility, accuracy and value for money of services to our customers

Learning and Skill Council (LSC)

Established in 2001

Training and Enterprise Council + Further Education Funding Council

An executive Non-Departmental Public Body responsible for planning and funding education and training for over 16 year olds

Fund around 6 million learners each year

LSC’s major works and concerns

Responsible for the funding, planning and quality assurance of

●Further education sector colleges●School sixth forms

●Work-based training and young people●Workforce development●Adult and Community Learning●Information, advice and guidance for adults●Education business links

Success for All

Success for All

Proposed a reform and standards agenda for the post-16 learning and skills sector

Backed up by investment

New relationship between Government, LSC and providers

Four Themes

Meeting needs, improving choicePutting teaching, training and learning at the hearth of what we doDeveloping the leaders, teachers, lecturers, trainers and support staff of the futureDeveloping a framework for quality and success

Expected Outcomes

All youth at age 16 go to college

People with have on-going progression

14-19 Curriculum and Qualification Reform

Why reform ?

“knowledge economy” demands ever-higher levels of knowledge and skills and flexibility among the workplace

Employers’ complaint : young people leave education and training without basic knowledge, skills and attributes

The education and training system is confusing and lacks transparency

14-19 Reform

In 2003, a report “14-19:Opportunity and Excellence” was published

Focus on curriculum and qualifications reform

Final Report was published in October 2004

www.14-19reform.gov.uk

Expected Outcomes

Flexible ladder of progression

Coherent programmes of learning

Compulsory core of learning and assured achievement in key components

High status vocational programmes

Diploma qualification of sufficient volume

Reduction in assessment burden

More information about learners’ achievement

Our Reform – are we on the right track?

Government needs to identify strategy to tackle the reasons why young people underachieve and leave education early

Putting more emphasis on vocational skills training

Equipping young people with basic skills and attributes they need to succeed in life and which our economy and society need for the future

How to Encouraging Students to Stay in the System and

Adults to acquire New Skills?

Education Maintenance Allowance

Pilot since 1999 and has now been available nationally from September 2004

For students who are in aged 16-19

Household of annual income of ₤ 30,000 (around HK$35,000 per month) or less

3 levels weekly payment of ₤ 10, ₤ 20, ₤ 30

Bonus payment of ₤ 100

Education Maintenance Allowance

pay directly to the student’s bank account

Entitle for up to 3 years

Available for both academic and vocational courses (12 guided learning hours, courses of 10 weeks or more)

EMA is paid on top of the other support and benefits

Around 450,000 young people would be benefited

Giving Incentives to Learners

Connexion card is one of the features of the Connexion

Encouraging Adult learners

Provide learndirect service helpline

Financial support

New Deal Programme

Improve the quality of training providers

Flexibility qualification framework