One in 10 Scottish school-leavers went straight on to the dole last year raising fresh fears over the education of some of the country's most vulnerable children.
Scottish Government figures show that of the 51,000 young people who left school in 2006-07, more than 5000 were registered as unemployed. Statistics also showed the proportion of pupils leaving school with no Standard Grades has remained static in the past three years at around 4% of the total.
There are some 20,000 young Scots between the ages of 16 and 19 who are not in employment, education or training - the so-called Neet group - a ratio which has been static for a decade.
By the age of 21, a young man from the Neet group - now referred to by the Scottish Government as More Choice More Chances - is three times more likely than average to have mental health issues, five times more likely to have a criminal record and six times less likely to have any qualifications. Nearly half of this group also go on to long-term unemployment.
Estimates also suggest each individual costs the Scottish taxpayer as much as £100,000 over the course of their lifetime.
Last night, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education, described the issue as "the single biggest challenge" facing Scotland's education system.
"We need more early intervention to support young people at risk of not being in education, employment or training," she said. "The new, reformed curriculum will help young people maintain enthusiasm by providing more personalised learning, youth work and volunteering opportunities to help develop confidence, motivation and skills.
"And I believe all young people should have experience of both vocational and academic learning."
Scottish Labour's education spokeswoman, Rhona Brankin, said early intervention alone could not solve the problem.
"There is an urgent need to tackle this problem with a range of innovative solutions, which is why we have established a commission on literacy," she said.
"We also believe every young person who wants it should be entitled to a modern apprenticeship on leaving school."
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