[Greens-Media] Della keeps youth support program alive on drip feed

[John Kaye]

Della keeps youth support program alive on drip feed
 
Media Release: 22 April 2008
 
NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca's announcement that he will extend the life of the Plan-It Youth program by just one year prolongs the uncertainty for this highly successful program for keeping young people in school, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "The Minister has given Plan-It Youth a one year reprieve despite admitting that it has helped 3,500 students complete their formal education.
 
"The program costs just $1 million a year for six coordinators who train up mentors and put them in contact with young people who are at risk of leaving school early.
 
"It beggars belief that Minister Della Bosca, having proclaimed Plan-It Youth to be successful and highly cost effective, failed to grant it a secure future.
 
"This is penny pinching at its worst. 
 
"The annual long term economic and social costs of not helping these students would be many times greater than the program budget.
 
"Having survived on borrowed time since the program was put on review in November of last year, coordinators will have to live with another year of uncertainty.
 
"This is bad news for the students and for the mentors and it will limit the ability of the coordinators to develop long terms plans for their areas.
 
"Minister Della Bosca should stand up to the budget cutting pressures coming from Treasurer Michael Costa.
 
"Plan-It Youth deserves a secure future," Dr Kaye said. 
 
Background: Plan-It Youth is run by six coordinators who provide training to mentors from the business and professional communities. Young people who are at risk of leaving school are put in contact with the mentors who help them realise the benefits of staying in formal education.
 
Since 2002, the program has trained 1,780 mentors who have helped 3,500 students from 80 public schools in Sydney and rural and regional areas.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
----------------------------------
John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000