15 October 2010
More action needed to keep Welsh youngsters learning or earning, says Assembly committee
The Welsh Government needs to demonstrate clearer leadership in tackling the issue of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Wales, according to a report published today (15 October) by the National Assembly for Wales’s Enterprise and Learning Committee.
The report from the cross-party group of AMs states that despite a number of positive strategies being in place, a lack of direction and joint-working is resulting in overlapping and uncoordinated services for the 68,000 Welsh 16-24 year-olds who are NEET.
The committee recommends that one Welsh Government Minister should oversee the agenda and, at local level, a lead agency should be established to coordinate partnerships, identify responsibilities and manage the journey for young people from one stage to another.
During the inquiry, the committee also heard evidence that there is a need for young people’s experiences to be looked at from a much younger age, to identify those at risk of becoming NEET in the future.
Other concerns of the Committee are the lack of a strategy specifically for 16 - 25 year-olds and the need to link up NEET services to avoid the ‘revolving door’ cycle - where young people are moved from provider to provider without progressing.
Chair of the Committee, Gareth Jones AM, said: “The causes of young people being NEET are complex and there are no easy answers to addressing the issue.
“The important point is that all policies and interventions that impact on these young people should be coherent, linked and aligned within an overarching framework of clear objectives and targets.
“The Welsh Government published its NEET strategy in 2009, but evidence received by the Committee showed that its delivery has been patchy and there is still no clear path being paved for the agenda in Wales.
“There is no shortage of aspiration or strategies and we do need diversity. However, more effective action on the ground and better collaboration between different agencies is vital to ensure a continuum of support for these young people.”