YES - Ming Zhang, principal education welfare officer, Kingston-upon-Thames
This is an encouraging development that will help more youngsters to stay on in education. However, in the 1990s, similar schemes in the US failed to improve young people's attainments despite the increase in attendance. The evaluations of the pilots in Scotland and England have indicated a similar concern. We must pay attention to the quality of post-16 education, instead of just counting the number of the participants.
YES - Jacqui Newvell, head of pupil inclusion, National Children's Bureau
Poverty should never be a barrier to education. Evaluation data shows financial incentives increase the number of disadvantaged young people staying on. Surely that's a positive outcome? This is a scheme designed to reap economic benefits by reducing the risks of unemployment and financial dependence on the state. But I would also like to believe it may help some young people develop a life-long love of learning. For 40 a week this is surely good value.
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