Defunding post-16 qualifications risks eroding young people’s opportunities, report warns

A report is warning that the government’s “rush to streamline post 16 qualifications” is seeing courses defunded and reducing young people’s choices for learning and future careers.

The report, by an independent commission on post-16 education hosted by social enterprise Youth Employment UK, warns that restricting career choice and opportunities for young people comes as youth unemployment is three times higher than the working age average.

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It says that qualifications are being defunded “without sufficient local data, leaving many young people with a reduced education offer in their local area”.

The government is being called on to “pause and review defunding qualifications in order to carry out further impact assessments of availability and accessibility”.

Young people are at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training) amid streamlining of qualifications, warns the report, “as they struggle to access a pathway that suits their aspirations and personal circumstances”.

“Being NEET is detrimental to a young person’s health, wellbeing, and life satisfaction, and increases the likelihood of ‘unhealthy behaviours’ such as drug-taking and crime. Being NEET for six months before the age of 21 increases the risk of unemployment or low pay in later life,” it adds.

The government is also being called on to ensure there is a wider range of qualifications for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

It warns that Level 3 and above qualifications “are not attainable by all young people”.

“It is important to value those who cannot achieve at this level and those who require adjustments equally within the system,” says the report

“Education reform should aim to provide high ambitions for their futures at the most appropriate level, along with the best possible support to meet those high ambitions, and success should be measured by the progress made, rather than the level of achievement.”

Youth Employment UK chief executive and commission chair Laura-Jane Rawlings said: “Fast-paced, non-evidence led education reform costs young people dearly. This cannot be right.

“There are actions the government must take now, to ensure all young people everywhere can access quality post-16 qualifications. Failure to do so, will come with a consequence of higher youth unemployment and economic inactivity.”