This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Improvements to education for children in care
26/10/2004
Young people in care will have access to better
educational opportunities thanks to a £6 million investment
announced today.
The cash will support new ways to raise attainment for
children in care through pilot areas which will be
identified with the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities (CoSLA).
Figures
published today show there has been little improvement
in attainment or the number of care leavers getting a job
or going on to higher education or training.
Deputy Education Minister Euan Robson said:
"Children who miss out on education face a life of
difficulty as adults and no civilised society can tolerate
this.
"We must have ambition for all young people in care and
this means supporting their individual talents and
aspirations by working together.
"We are writing to councils making it clear they must
ensure children in care receive the same educational
opportunities as their peers.
"That's why, to support councils, we are making £6
million available over the next two years to explore new
ways of boosting educational attainment for children in
care.
"I want good practice to be shared so that others can
benefit in the future.
"All children deserve the best possible start in life
and that is especially crucial for young people in care who
may already face challenges in their lives.
"We can not afford to waste any of our young people's
talents and we are determined that any suggestion that
children in care have second class status will end."