3:47pm Monday 8th February 2010
By Ryan McCarthy
Teenagers have been benefiting from a £40 million Government training scheme.
Youngsters from in and around Witham have been drawn to the town to take part in courses to improve their maths, English and computer skills.
It’s part of a Government scheme to offer a place in education to all 16 and 17- year- olds who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).
Last Monday youngsters spent the morning at Witham’s Spring Lodge Community Centre learning how to fix computers.
Dan Ferretti, Admin Manager with First Contact Training, one of the partners delivering the scheme, said the courses cover customer services, pc building and business administration.
He said improving basic English and maths was also part of the training.
Paul Butts, one of the tutors, said: “Considering the issues some of the kids have had with previous education it’s gone really well.
“They’ve come on the course, enjoyed it and stuck with it.”
Joshua McDonald, 16, of Braintree’s Fairview Estate, said he will finish the course with a level one City and Guilds qualification in maths and English, a pc building qualification and a level one European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) - a European-wide qualification demonstrating competence in computer skills.
Joshua said he has done two and a half days a week for eight weeks and he joined the scheme after his application to join the Army was deferred.
“I have applied to Colchester Sixth Form,” he said. “The course has been a great opportunity, it came along at the right time for me and there’s others who have had little or no qualifications and it’s been great for them,” said the former Honywood Community Science School pupil.
Mr Ferretti said a course will soon be held in Braintree.
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