Page 75 - Guiding-at-risk-youth-through-learning-to-work-Lessons-from-across-Europe

Guiding at-risk youth through learning to work
Lessons from across Europe

Netherlands, Poland and Romania. Many other governments are planning similar
changes.
High quality early childhood education has also been proven to have
numerous benefits for both individuals and for wider society. Research has
shown that it provides children with a solid foundation for more effective future
learning, thereby minimising the risk of early school leaving. A series of European
policy documents (European Commission, 2008b, 2008c, 2008d, 2006a;
European Parliament, 2007) has highlighted the importance of the development
of social competence through early childhood education and care, in particular for
children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Financial measures have been used in several European countries to
encourage young people to remain in education or training. Measures have
included: scholarships for students in vocational establishments (Latvia and
Slovenia); financial incentives to allow students from lower socioeconomic
backgrounds to remain in education (Ireland, Spain, Slovakia and the UK);
means-tested mainstream education grant and loan schemes (Denmark and
Finland); support to attend VET training programmes for early school leavers
(Hungary); and financial incentives for schools to ensure all students sit and pass
their final exams (Iceland).

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