Young People who need More Choices, More Chances
There are some 32,000 young people in Scotland who are not in education, employment or training. Of those, around 24,000 need additional support to be able to move into learning or employment. More Choices, More Chances aims to do this in five ways:
- by ensuring that Curriculum for Excellence provides opportunities to young people under 16 that are tailored to individual need, with flexibility and appropriate support for every young person
- by ensuring that every young person has a clear pathway from school into learning post-16; with supported transitions and sustained opportunities
- by ensuring that learning is a financially viable option, by considering the financial support and incentives available to young people
- by ensuring that the right support is available to young people to find out about, engage with and sustain learning and employment
- by making a joint commitment to action between central and local government, employers, learning providers and support agencies to develop the service infrastructure required to meet the needs of vulnerable young people
All of these actions are about ensuring that young people are able to access the universal services from which they should benefit, aligning mainstream systems to cater for all young people including those who need additional support.
Tackling this issue will also contribute to making Scotland smarter, healthier, safer and stronger and wealthier and fairer.
More Choices, More Chances (MCMC) was published in June 2006 and endorsed by the Scottish Government following the election in May 2007.
More Choices, More Chances contains a 39-point action plan which will be delivered by central and local government and other partners from the public, voluntary and private sector.
The strategy proposes a two fold approach to tackling young people who need more choices and chances, (i) at the pre 16 stage in order to stem the flows into the group, and (ii) at the 16-19 stage, to provide routes for young people to get back into education, employment or training.
It is an ambitious agenda requiring a national effort - in recognition of the national priority the Scottish Government places on giving young people the best possible start to adult life and work. The Scottish Government is working with The Smith Group (a group of business and education leaders chaired by Lord Smith of Kelvin) to implement the strategy.
What does 16+ Learning Choices mean to More Choices, More Chances?
What does the Fairer Scotland Fund mean to More Choices, More Chances?
What does Inspiring Scotland mean to More Choices, More Chances?