Youth Employment UK is a partner to the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign and supports the call to protect Vocational Technical Qualifications (VTQ’s), including BTECs, from being defunded.
Youth Employment UK recognises BTECs and other VTQs as an important route through post-16 education and the significant role they play in developing the skills needed for employment. In our 2021 Youth Voice Census 66.3% of participants enjoyed or really enjoyed the choice of subjects at post-16 level, indicating the importance of choice to young people and their satisfaction with the current offer. We also recognise the vital role of BTECs and other VTQs in supporting social mobility for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups and those with special educational needs.
The removal of funding for these qualifications could lead to a cohort of young people being excluded from post-16 education and without the support needed to find good-quality employment. Evidence provided for the APPG on Youth Employment inquiry exploring the impacts of vocational qualifications on young people’s employability, published in January 2022, of which Youth Employment is secretariat, suggested that the likelihood of young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) will rise under the proposals as the system will not provide enough opportunity for educational study post-16 for many young people. Furthermore, the longer term scarring effect of youth unemployment will not only affect young people but the productivity and economic growth of the country. Removing choice for young people is unlikely to solve the youth unemployment issue and more likely exacerbate it.
VTQs can and should sit alongside A Levels, T Levels and Apprenticeship routes to ensure the right options for young people at an individual level, based on their needs and aspirations.
It is vital that the voices of young people are heard on this issue and that post-16 options for young people provide meaningful choices for their futures. To endorse this campaign and #ProtectStudentChoice you can:
- Write to your local MP to secure their support
- Tweet support using the #ProtectStudentChoice hashtag
- Contact local schools and colleges and ask them to join the campaign
- Contact local employers and universities to ask them to support the campaign
- Share your success stories of BTECs and other VTQs
