Nearly one in five UK 16 and 17 year olds are Neets - those neither in employment, education or training - a study seen by the BBC suggests.

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'Neets' - you heard it here first

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NEETS (it's normally capitlaised BTW) is a bit iof a hot subject. However, the key date for measuring is in the autumn - a the end of July loads of kids will be leaving school and it won't yet be clear what they are going to do - not because they don't have a plan because at this stage it is not finalised. For example, they may not yet have a confirmed place at college.

I think the figure round here is in the region of 10% - which is still way far too high, but it does also include youngsters who are in employment, education or training but whose 'destination' is not known.

Getting these youngsters into realistic jobs or education should be a high priority - not just keeping them occupied (although that is also important).

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how long before this is offensive and we're not allowed to call them it anymore?

Personally I think they should be allowed some time to find their feet, as long as they know they have to do something. It can be difficult to find direction after leaving school

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LOCK THEM UP. NATIONAL SERVICE I TELL YOU.

Just kidding. Let them chill out for a year. It's no big deal. It starts to become a problem when they are NEETS for 10 years.

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are they the ones behind knife crime?

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How are they affording their mobile phones, WKD etc?

I assume their parents are subbing them/giving them pocket money?

They need to be taught that in order to buy stuff you have to, like, work?

They should all have weekend jobs from 15-16 in my opinion.

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soft parents, dole.

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They should be given a year to find something, upon which, if they haven't, their arms and legs get chopped off.

The Devil makes work for idle hands.

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NEETS

FFS

Lazy sods.

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