The Commission for Developing Scotland\u2019s Young Workforce publishes its final report today.<\/p>\n
Our Commission sat at an opportune time to look at significantly enhancing Scotland\u2019s approach to vocational education and youth employment. The reforms which have already taken place in schools and colleges as well as the growth in the number of Modern Apprenticeships provide a strong platform for change.<\/p>\n
Our report lays out a number of steps to develop a new approach to vocational education, with work experience built in, starting in the senior phase of school and offering clear pathways to skilled and rewarding employment.<\/p>\n
As we said at the time of publication of our Interim Report, Scotland has an ingrained culture that values higher education way ahead of vocational education. The Commission believes both are critically important to our future economic prosperity and, from the response to our Interim Report, we believe this view is increasingly supported across Scotland\u2019s education, employer and political communities.<\/p>\n
Our recommendations seek to enhance the value of vocational options in the eyes of young people, parents and employers and establish a much stronger vocational education framework.<\/p>\n
Through partnerships between schools, colleges and other training providers, we can offer industry relevant vocational qualifications for the majority of school leavers not planning to go to university as a mainstream part of the senior phase curriculum. And our recommendations link the vocational pathways starting at school much more effectively to higher level college and apprenticeship opportunities for young people leaving school.<\/p>\n
Ultimately our recommendations all lead to the workplace and, although there are many notable exceptions, Scottish employers are not playing a significant enough role in developing our young workforce nor in recruiting young people. Currently only 29 per cent of employers recruit directly from education, only 13 per cent take on Modern Apprentices and only 27 per cent offer work experience. The employers we have spoken to say they are keen to do more and our recommendations are designed to support them and others to do so.<\/p>\n
The Commission recommends essentially a contract between employers, education and young people. To develop and support this, we recommend the establishment of 15-20 employer-led Regional Invest in Youth groups across Scotland, appropriately resourced and funded. They will have two key tasks:<\/p>\n
As an example of this, we are recommending the introduction of Foundation Apprenticeships in schools as part of the school\/college vocational programme.\u00a0 This will take away one year of the cost of a normal three year apprenticeship and will make the young people more work ready.\u00a0 We\u2019re also recommending more incentives for small companies to take on more apprentices.\u00a0 We also have a number of other measures which include the role of public bodies and large private companies working with their supply chains to encourage Invest In Youth activities.\u00a0 Additionally, we\u2019re proposing companies in receipt of public funding support should be encouraged to develop Invest In Youth policies.<\/p>\n
We have a significant section on advancing equalities. Effectively we conclude the diversity in our communities should be reflected in the diversity in the work place and thus:<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve identified two important cross cutting equality issues \u2013<\/p>\n
And we make a number of specific recommendations for each of gender, black and ethnic minorities, disabled young people and care leavers.<\/p>\n
We are very pleased that Scottish Government and COSLA received our Interim Report enthusiastically and that the implementation of many of the recommendations is now being planned,\u00a0 Our final report highlights the essential role that business and industry can and must play in realising the potential of our young people.\u00a0 This is a natural follow on to our proposals in vocational education and we are hopeful that Scottish Government and COSLA will recognise this and implement our final report proposals on a fast track basis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Commission for Developing Scotland\u2019s Young Workforce publishes its final report today. Our Commission sat at an opportune time to look at significantly enhancing Scotland\u2019s approach to vocational education and youth employment. The reforms which have already taken place in schools and colleges as well as the growth in the number of Modern Apprenticeships provide…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[31],"class_list":["post-1330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy","tag-education"],"yoast_head":"\n