Nothing to live for.

[Workingman]

That is the conclusion of a study by the Prince's Trust about the feelings of three quarters of a million young adults - no job, no chance of a job, and if they have a job, no prospects.

They have been conned:

Conned by the education establishment into thinking that a 'D' or an 'E' is a pass when business people are not that happy that a 'C' is of any worth.

Conned into believing that six months' training is an 'apprenticeship' that makes them a 'boiler engineer'.

Conned into doing a degree when it is patently obvious that there are only a limited number of positions where a degree is really needed.

Conned by the media into the belief that if they want something badly enough it will come to them, so they queue for Britain's got Talent or X-Factor.

Nobody, in the lives of these young people, has had the cojones to tell them the truth; and anyone who ever tries is shouted down, from on high, because the truth is not what they want the people to hear.

[Osc]

I think part of these expectations originate in the home too - far too many children are brought up to think that the world owes them a living. So many young people think they can just waltz into a well paid job without any decent qualifications - whatever happened to starting on the switchboard or in the post room and working your way up. I also agree that the education system is letting children down, far too many get into university with poor skills in English and maths - there again, for me some of that goes right back to the home environment, too many parents have little interest in their children's education AND far too many so-called universities are nothing more than jumped up techs with ridiculous "degrees" on offer. I don't know what the answer is because I feel that very left wing ideals have an iron grip on education in the UK, although thankfully it's not so bad here in Ireland.

[Kaz]

Agreeing with all of this!

I'm glad that B's degree is vocational, ie so specific that it has its own merit!

[Osc]

My brother will be 70 in April, and hates not to work. His qualification is in hotel/catering and he has no wish to retire as he really doesn't have any hobbies and gets bored rigid if not working. He always has some kind of work. Currently he is running a small cafe, of course he works far too hard especially given his age - but very few young people have that kind of work ethic. (I can tell you, my brother's two sisters don't have it any more either ) He has told me of young people who are not prepared to wash dishes, clean down tables, prep food properly........they think it is beneath them

[cruiser2]

I agree with osc. Most young people think they should start at the top and don't need qualifications. I refuse to use the self service tills in shops. I tell the person at the check out it is their lucky day as they have got the awkward customer!!
At our local college, they have converted an old building previously used as offices into new classrooms for catering students and introduced the word "Uni" into the title. It is one step from making the whole college into a "Uni" with a big rise in salaries and other costs.
These modern apprenticeships are not long enough and very few have a practical element. THey don't have to go and get a bucket of steam!!

[KateLMead]

Too many who go for job interviews do not even have command of the English language, and their communication skills are sadly lacking. Interesting adverts for labourers, catering, caring for the elderly, nurses doctors and those in the building industry etc in Romania and Bulgaria. The problem as we can see with a great majority of our own teenagers, they are not willing to get their hands dirty, they drink like fishes, sleep around and are irresponsible.. Not all of them of course we still have those whom we can refer too as The Pride of Britain and sadly most of them are contemplating or have already left this country.

[Workingman]

Does anybody see what has happened here? The blame for their plight is put fairly and squarely on the shoulders of of those who 'Have nothing to live for', but hang on.

Everything mentioned is either a learned behaviour, or was never taught them in the first place. They did not suddenly wake up and think that they were owed a living, that is what society, via the media, has led them to believe. They do not have the command of English and maths we sort of expect because they have not been taught well enough. How would they ever get self-discipline or a work ethic without some form of guidance? Rather than taking the rocky road we have pandered to their every whim. We, my generation and ones after, have created these people.

I feel that we share a large protion of the blame for where they find themselves.

[KateLMead]

I agree Frank.