MODERN apprenticeships for disabled people in Scotland are falling well below the national average.
Figures from Skills Development Scotland show less than 1% of apprentices are undertaken by disabled people compared to 8% in England.
And down south, disabled apprenticeships have more than tripled in the last 10 years from 12,960 in 2002/03 to 42,850 in 2012/13.
There has also been a notable decrease in the number of people not achieving their modern apprenticeship in Scotland.
Last year 19,500 young people started on schemes and 13,500 achieved their apprenticeship – leaving 6,000 without any qualification.
And from 2014, the 28 per cent of non-achievements increased from six per cent.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said:
“We note the SNP-led Scottish Government has announced a £500,000 package to address inequalities in apprenticeships, and I hope this funding is used wisely to improve the uptake of apprenticeship places for disabled people.
The number of disabled people entering apprenticeship schemes in Scotland is scandalous. So I’m glad they are finally looking into addressing the problem.”
