Education cuts will hit out of work and of education youngsters

The new figures, which show a drop in the number of young people out of work and education of just 0.3% on this time last year, come a just a week after youth unemployment was predicted to rise to a million - its highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.
 
The union said the decision to scrap the education maintenance allowance (EMA), triple the price of tuition fees and slash budgets for further and higher education would make it much harder for youngsters to get the skills needed to find jobs and realise their potential.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'At a time when youth unemployment is at its highest since records began, the government is cutting the very services young people need to get on in life.
 
'Education is absolutely vital in helping young people acquire the skills they need to stay away from the dole queue and achieve their full potential. Instead of erecting barriers to study, such as tripling the cost of tuition fees and scrapping the education maintenance allowance, the government should be following the example of competitor nations and investing in education and our young people's future.'