NASUWT: Youth employment and training opportunities 'cruelly snatched away'

Monday, 9 August 2010 12:00 AM

Commenting on the report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), predicting increased job losses in the public and private sectors, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:

"Young people, parents and teachers will be deeply alarmed by forecasts from the CIPD that one in three employers will cut jobs in the next three months.

"This stark prediction comes when many young people will enter the labour market for the first time. It is bad news for young people and bad news for economic recovery.
"The excitement and eager anticipation that should be felt on the eve of the publication of this week's A-level results will almost certain be tinged with a high degree of anxiety for the future.

"There is mounting evidence that the public expenditure cuts by the Coalition Government are now translating into fewer university places, and fewer apprenticeships and job opportunities throughout the public and private sectors.

"Young people have worked extremely hard to gain the qualifications and skills they need to access jobs and university places but may now find these opportunities have been cruelly snatched away from them.

"Against any measure, today's school and college leavers are achieving the best results of any generation. However, the achievements and talents of thousands of young people are at risk of being squandered and wasted needlessly.

"Investment in jobs, education and training should be the priority, to avert a double dip recession and to continue to build the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm of today's young people.

"Without action to tackle youth unemployment, fewer young people will in future be persuaded to continue to participate in post-16 study and it will become increasingly difficult for teachers to motivate those who do."

ENDS

Stuart Gannon
NASUWT Press Office

Tel: 020 7420 9681
Mobile (and out of hours contact): 07966 198894
Address: 5 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8SD

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