Alex Rowley MSP has used a visit to Lochgelly High School in his Fife constituency to highlight the need for schools to build employability into the core curriculum and develop much closer working partnerships with employers and colleges.
The Scottish Labour deputy leader said that too many young people are not gaining enough appropriate skills or experience to equip them for the world of work.
He said; “We have a skills gap in many sectors across Scotland and companies are using agencies across Europe to recruit skills labour whilst so many of our young people in communities up and down Scotland cannot get onto the employment ladder.
“If we are to tackle the unacceptable levels of poverty and inequality across Scotland then giving young people the skills and opportunities to get the jobs will be key and that means a new relationship between business, industry and education.
“I saw some great examples of innovation and new thinking in Lochgelly High school and it is clear that the curriculum for excellence provides opportunity and scope for integrating employability into the core curriculum and at government level there needs to be more done to promote good practice and support education authorities to drive this agenda.
He concluded: “By investing in our young people we will provide a generation with the skills and training they desperately require to succeed and once and for all tackle the unacceptable levels of poverty in Scotland.”
