Labour’s claims rejected

Press, 10 February 1981, Page 2

Labour’s claims rejected

PA Wellington The Labour Party has been accused of “gorging itself on a diet of despair” by the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington). •‘lt is intent on creating a i mood of fear and hopeless- • ness among young people and their parents,” Mr Wellington said yesterday, in response to an assertion by the Labour Leader (Mr Rowling) that about 5000 people had gone back to school this year against their will. Mr Wellington said that the Labour Party was conveniently ignoring the facts. He said that about 100 schools would this year provide pre-employment and work-exploration programmes designed to pick up the student likely to have difficulties entering the work force. The scheme ran in 67 schools last year. The special programmes in schools, this year would reach 15.000 youg people ,at a cost of $900,000. “These schemes have been tried and proven,” Mr Wellington said. “Of 2100 young people who took part in similar programmes in 1979, 1550 have jobs. “Contrary to Mr Rowling’s emotive claims those returning to school because of the tight employment market, are very much being taken care of.”