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Authorities to force problem youths into life skill camps


Tags: Excerpts from the Windmill

THE HAGUE – A task force on Unemployment among youths has concluded that Dutch authorities can force problem youth into life skill camps. The task force based its advice on research by a university and a group of legal experts. The conclusions run counter to a study by a consulting firm last year which the government rejected. As part of the mix, the government intends to raise the age limit to 18 for mandatory education and will introduce a mandatory apprenticeship program to age 23 as well for students who choose vocational education but fail to graduate. Of the 160,000 students who in 2005 left vocational schools, 60,000 did not obtain their diploma. About 13,000 are considered to be problem youths. The government has doubled its budget for the life skill camps.