Literacy news
Proposals to transform careers advice could be problematic
24 Feb 2011
Councils that are proposing to abolish Connexions services ahead of the creation of an all-age careers service in April 2012 risk a legal challenge with Unison estimating that 8,000 Connexions jobs are at risk as a result of local authority cuts.
Denise Bertuchi, Assistant National Officer for education and children's services at Unison, said:
The Education Bill states clearly that local authorities are obliged to provide impartial and professional careers advice to young people. If there's sufficient evidence to show this isn't happening, we're investigating the possibility of a judicial review this summer.
One of the options being considered by the councils is using schools and colleges to provide careers advice to young people and then purchasing additional services from external providers.
Skills minister John Hayes, who made the announcement at the Institute of Careers Guidance annual conference in Belfast said:
I want to re-professionalise the careers service and create an environment in which careers guidance is recognised for the important public good it is, in which young people, adults, schools, colleges, universities and whole communities see its value, use it and invest in it.
I am calling on the careers sector in England to rise to the challenge of implementing the new all-age careers service.
Read the article from Children and Young People Now.
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