MPs call out Government’s ‘failure to address’ inadequate careers guidance, urging immediate improvements
MPs Neil Carmichael and Iain Wright said the Education, Skills and the Economy Committee they co-chair is “strongly critical” of the Government’s response to their report on careers education, blaming the Government for its “failure to produce a long-promised strategy”.
The Committee’s report, published in July, found that poor careers guidance in many English schools is “exacerbating skills shortages and having a negative impact on the country’s productivity”.
Both Chairs said in a joint statement:
“The Government’s lack of action to address failings in careers provision is unacceptable and its response to our report smacks of complacency. Ministers appear to be burying their heads in the sand while careers guidance fails young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and exacerbates the country’s skills gap.
“Impartial advice and guidance and high quality careers education is vital if we are to achieve the social mobility and aspiration that the Prime Minister has talked about and vital to creating the skilled workforce needed to grow the economy post-Brexit.
“We are very disappointed that the careers strategy long-promised by Government has still not been produced. It is also disappointing that the Government has dismissed our recommendations for holding schools to account through Ofsted inspection and untangling the confusing web of organisations, services providers and websites offering careers advice.
“The Government should think again on careers advice, take on board our Committee’s conclusions and get its act together to produce a thorough careers strategy, which supports the needs of all young people and the economy as a whole.”
The Government’s full response to the initial report is available to read here.
The Committee’s full statement based on the Government’s response is available to read here.