01 September 2006
Rural youngsters are being denied the education and training opportunities open to their urban counterparts because of accessibility problems, a leading think-tank said this week.
A report from IPPR North claimed that many country-dwelling 16-year-olds would not even consider attending college because it would require a full-time move to the city.
Sue Stirling, IPPR North director, said: 'Teenagers in rural areas are facing a dilemma: should they stay or should they go? Having got their GCSE results, most teenagers think about resits or further study at a local FE college.
'But for many teenagers in rural areas that is not an option unless they can stay over in the city and do residential courses.'
The August 29 report also warns that the new 14—19 diplomas are unlikely to be offered at every further education college in rural areas, despite the fact that teenagers will have a statutory right to study for it from 2008.
PFsep2006
