Government drops youth 'ID card'
Friday, 2 March 2007 12:00 AM
The government has dropped its Youth Opportunity Cards scheme, children's minister Beverly Hughes has confirmed.
Technological problems meant that the scheme was not cost effective. After a £2 million pilot it emerged that new technology was needed for a successful roll-out.
"Our conclusions are that the costs would far outweigh the money being provided to young people, considerable risks and uncertainties remain and there is no off-the-shelf solution or one that can be developed with certainty at the present time," said Ms Hughes.
"Therefore we do not believe that going ahead with the card at this point in time would provide value for money."
The scheme had been seen by some as a precursor to a nationwide ID card scheme and the Liberal Democrats have suggested that the failed pilot is an ominous sign for the government's planned ID database.
Lib Dem education spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "The fact that they were unable to find suitable technology to handle this relatively small scheme doesn't bode well for success in taking forward the much larger ID cards project."
Chancellor Gordon Brown launched Youth Opportunity Cards in March and they were being trialled in ten local authorities.
Aimed at 13 to 19-year-olds, the cards enabled teenagers to earn credits for good behaviour, which could then be spent on sporting and educational activities.
The Liberal Democrats attacked the scheme as a 'gimmicky' waste of resources.
"This government project didn't even make it out of the starting blocks. The government needs to spend time and money getting tried and tested practices right instead of wasting money on gimmicks that never get off the ground," said Ms Teather.
She added: "Tackling bullying, recruiting expert teachers and an exciting curriculum are the ways to keep young people interested in education, not ill thought out reward schemes."
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