The Cost of Playing Truant

According to government data out this week, 40,000 young people are playing truant from school at least 2 days a week. There are many reasons why a young person may choose to miss school. It might be that they are being bullied or that they are looking after another family member or that they are simply not being engaged by their education. It will be different for every one of them. What's clear, however, is that we need to get these young people back into education because the cost to society of leaving them roaming outside the school gates is enormous.The Department for Education and Skills reckons that as a conservative estimate, each young person not in education, employment or training (NEET) at age 16 will cost the tax payer £97,000. Some will cost over £300,000 in their lifetime. Figures from The Poverty Site say that at present, one in eight young people is NEET. That's a huge tab coming our way each year.Whilst schools spend their money on having counsellors present, I truly believe that they need to consider having coaches there too. There are many differences between counselling and coaching but the main one is that counselling looks at past events whilst coaching focuses on motivating young people to look forward and create goals for their future. It's about helping young people to take responsibility for their lives and to see the issues affecting them in a different way so that they can become inspired again and motivated to create a better future for themselves. The cost of coaching is minimal when compared to both the cost to the taxpayer in the future and indeed the cost to that individual's life as they struggle to live in poverty.The same DFES survey worked out that 16 year olds not in education, employment or training were:• 22 times more likely to be teenage mothers• 50% more likely to suffer from poor health• 60% more likely to be involved with drugs• 20 times more likely to become criminalsAlterEgo works with young people to inspire, motivate and empower them. If you'd like to find out more about the work we do or know a school or teenager that could benefit from coaching, get in touch or visit our website http://www.alteregocoaching.co.uk/.



Suzannah

http://www.alteregocoaching.co.uk/

info@alteregocoaching.co.uk

Inspire. Motivate. M-Power.