BYC: Young people excluded from education bill debate

Tuesday, 28, Feb 2006 12:00

Young People Excluded from Education Bill Debate warns British Youth Council

February 2006, London: The British Youth Council (BYC) is calling on politicians and the media following the release of the Education Bill, not to exclude young people from the debate.

Rachel Harrington, Vice-chair of BYC, said “The furore surrounding the publication of the Education Bill has made regular headline news over the past few weeks. Opinions have been canvassed from politicians, experts and interest groups on the proposed education reforms. However, one group remains conspicuous through its absence, even though it is the group that will be most affected by these proposed education reforms – young people. Both in the initial development phase and the current discussion, the choices and opinions of young people have been ignored by politicians, and sadly by the vast majority of the media”.

As the Bill passes through Parliament, BYC along with a number of other children’s charities will be campaigning to ensure that the Government ensures long-term participation in schools, by introducing a statutory duty requiring local education authorities and school governing bodies to let children and young people have a real voice in all maters affecting them.

Ben Rawlings, Trustee of BYC added that, “Only yesterday, the Power Inquiry, an independent investigation into the disengagement of voters has called for the voting age to be reduced to 16 - a view supported by Gordon Brown. If young people under the age of 18 are mature enough to vote and pay taxes, surely they are mature enough to participate in education choices that will have a critical effect on their future”.