Military experts to tackle truancy

The project will take 80 pupils from S3

Former military instructors will be used in a pilot scheme to combat truancy, the Scottish Executive has announced.

Education Minister Jack McConnell said the three retired instructors, with adventure pursuit qualifications, will work with a group of about 80 pupils from four North Lanarkshire schools over the next two years.

He said they will provide "challenging vocational training, with an emphasis on team-building and leadership" skills.

The Skill Force Initiative project is based on a successful US scheme called Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Jack McConnell: "Improving life chances"

The three instructors will start work in August with pupils from Coatbridge High School, Clyde Valley High School, Caldervale High School and Bellshill Academy.

It is hoped that the vocational training given to 80 hand picked pupils will improve attendance, reduce juvenile crime, encourage greater levels of achievement and enhance employment skills.

Mr McConnell said: "Skill Force can help disruptive young people stay on the right track and raise educational achievement.

"It's a new way of keeping them in the system and improving life chances for all.

"It is vital that we act now to tackle exclusion and truancy and promote a positive ethos in our schools.

Lifesavers award

The Scottish Executive is providing £170,000 for the pilot project over the next two years.

Children selected in S3 will drop two subjects from the curriculum in order to make the time to participate in Skill Force.

The focus will be on vocational and employment skills, work leading towards the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the St John Ambulance Young Lifesavers Award and outdoor pursuits.

The schools will identify those children who it is felt will most benefit from the pilot, with parental consent.