UNICEF has rated the UK as one of the worst rich nations when it comes to the well-being of children and young people.
A study published by UNICEF placed the UK in 16th position in its league table of child well-being, which compared 29 developed countries.
Based on data collected up to 2010, the UK’s total score was lower than the Czech Republic, Portugal and Slovenia. Its lowest score was given for education.
UNICEF’s research found the UK had one of the highest rates of young people not in education, employment or training at 10 per cent of 15- to 19-year-olds, ranking the UK fourth from bottom on this measure.
The UK was also one of only three countries where teenage pregnancy had risen since UNICEF’s last child well-being study in 2007.
The report quoted Department for Education figures from January that showed government spending on young people’s services had fallen by £307.5m between 2010/11 and 2011/12 – a reduction of 26 per cent.
UNICEF UK’s deputy executive director, Anita Tiessen, said the report indicated that the coalition government was failing young people by downgrading youth policy and cutting services, such as those intended to tackle teenage pregnancy.
Click here to read more of this article published in Children & Young People Now
This appears to be a very sad state of affairs, and perhaps everybody should pull together to make the UK a better place for all our children and young people. Literacy skills are paramount to ensuring the best possible start to help to ensure our youngsters go on to live fulfilling lives and succeed in their chosen careers.
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