Overview of UK’s Education, Training and Employment Services

1. Overview of UK’s Education, Training and Employment Services

2. 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%

3. 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

4. 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)

5. How to tackle the needs of NEET • 1999 New Opportunities for 16-18 NEET • Set out action plan to work on NEET • Major 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Success for All

15. 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

16. Four Themes • Meeting needs, improving choice • Putting teaching, training and learning at the hearth of what we do • Developing the leaders, teachers, lecturers, trainers and support staff of the future • Developing a framework for quality and success

17. Expected Outcomes • All youth at age 16 go to college • People with have on-going progression

18. 14-19 Curriculum and Qualification Reform

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. How to Encouraging Students to Stay in the System and Adults to acquire New Skills?

24. 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

25. 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

26. Giving Incentives to Learners • Connexion card is one of the features of the Connexion

27. Encouraging Adult learners • Provide learndirect service helpline • Financial support • New Deal Programme • Improve the quality of training providers • Flexibility qualification framework