We believe that, for the future success of our country, we must ensure that young people are given every learning and training opportunity. Resources spent on the young are an investment in the future that can only enhance our country’s potential. Too many opportunities are lost when we turn a blind eye to those who leave school without basic skills and whose chances of achieving a job with good pay are thus highly diminished.
Our country’s best resource is its human resource and we cannot allow this precious resource to be left unattended. The human resource is not just about a better workforce, it is also about better citizens. We must therefore ensure that our educational system provides the best schooling, and if anyone needs additional support they should receive it so that they too have the chance to succeed.
The Labour Party is committed to implementing the youth guarantee. We owe this guarantee to our young people and we owe it to the future of our country. The youth guarantee will ensure that young people above the age of 16 will either continue to pursue their studies, follow a training programme or have a job. In simple terms, everyone of school leaving-age will be earning or learning.
This guarantee has already been implemented in EU states with progressive governments and positive results have been achieved by Austria and Finland.
An initiative that has been suggested by the progressive parties in the EU has now been adopted by the EU institutions. The EU has decided to invest €6 billion in the implementation of the youth guarantee across all member states. Labour has been advocating this initiative for over a year and if elected to power, it will ensure that this it is implemented.
The youth guarantee has two main aims: to assist those who left school or training without having achieved upper secondary education to return to school or enrol in vocational training for in-demand skills, and to assist graduates to obtain their first work experience. It is a positive investment to increase the opportunities for young people to acquire more skills and help in the transition from schooling to acquiring a job or pursuing a career.
This guarantee will not be a standalone solution. It will be part of a larger framework of initiatives intended to produce more trained and skilled workers and promote innovation and entrepreneurship. These initiatives will be enhanced by the introduction of a skills bank so that our country will be more aware of its available skills and the areas in which further investment and training is required.
Labour stands for economic growth that is far reaching and that ensures a better standard of living for all. In order to achieve our economic aims, we have to take every positive initiative to improve our country’s economic environment to make more things happen. We believe that a healthier economy can be achieved if our workforce is trained well and possesses more skills. Education and training will be the main driving force behind our country’s future successes. The youth guarantee is a boost for young people and a boost for our country’s success. It represents the ambition and determination that will result, should a Labour government be elected.
Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi is the President of the Labour Party