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4 Britain’s lost talent One of the largest ever UK studies on NEETs suggests that the country could miss out on 62,000 teachers, 19,500 doctors and nurses and 1,500 plumbers if young people are unable to pursue their ambitions. The YouGov research, based on interviews with 1,046 16- to 24-year-old NEETs, suggests that while the majority want to work, the daily struggles they face make it harder to find a job. a) Look at the statistics below and find a suitable headline for each part. “I worry that I’ll never have enough money to provide for myself or my children.” “I’ll never amount to anything.” Strongly agree/Agree: 41% 22% (Unemployed for more than six months) 12% (Unemployed up to six months) 41% 22% 12% “I worry that I’ll get into so much debt that I’ll lose everything.” “I don’t have any skills and talents.” Strongly agree/Agree: 27% 29% (Unemployed for more than six months) 10% (Unemployed up to six months) 27% 29% 10% “I have cut back on food and heating because I can’t find a job.” Strongly agree/Agree: 31% 31% “I don’t have enough money to buy smart clothes to wear for job interviews.” Strongly agree/Agree: 40% 40% Number of jobs lost 62,000 teachers 26,000 police officers 19,500 doctors/nurses 16,000 mechanics  8,500 construction workers  6,500 chefs  6,000 firefighters  1,500 plumbers b) With a partner, discuss reasons why young people could become NEETs. c) Collect conditions that must be fulfilled for young people in order to be able to pursue their ambitions. Writing: Challenges of tomorrow In the weekend edition of a newspaper you have come across a letter to the editor that caught your eye. It actually made you react so emotionally that you have decided to write an e-mail to the editor of the newspaper commenting on the views in the letter. In your e-mail to the editor you should: • analyse the question if the reader’s impression is justified • discuss your rights and responsibilities as a young person • outline your difficulties growing up Write around 250 words . 5  Fact file NEET NEET is an acronym for the government classification for people currently “Not in Education, Employment or Training”. The classification comprises people aged between 16 and 24 who are unemployed, not enrolled in school or engaged in housework, and not seeking work or the technical training needed for work. F 6  Young people of today not ready for challenges of tomorrow What is wrong with today’s youth? In my life, I have seen more than one generation grow up. I have seen dozens of lovely children turning into challenging teenagers and finally into responsible adults. I just can’t adopt the same optimistic view when I think of today’s adolescents. At an age where previous generations already followed their individual paths to success, today’s youth appears to me as a lazy, spoiled and uninformed lot. They don’t read enough, dress in a far too provocative manner, and are disrespectful to their elders. How should such a hopeless generation possibly be able to face the challenges of tomorrow? Emily McBride, Reading 60 Adolescence Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv