Once upon a time they used to be known as drop-outs but these days there's an acronym for everyone and everything so they're officially known as 'neets.' That's the Government term for 16-19-year-olds who are 'Not in Education, Employment or Training.' And there are at least 150,000 of them in the UK and growing every year.

Official figures suggest each and every single neet costs society £100,000 over the course of their lifetime. Not unnaturally the authorities have been wracking their brains trying to find a solution. But one idea, dreamt up by Bournemouth College, has been heavily criticised in the media.

The college has been running a 14-week course over the summer for neets, offering what they call 'incentives' and detractors say are 'bribes.' There are free lunches and free travel plus £50 a week on offer for the teenagers attending the course with a £100 bonus and a free mini-iPod if they complete the course.

Out of 53 students enrolled, 46 qualified for the bonuses. Course director Sean Kelly maintains he has the correct approach, saying '140 quid on a mini iPod - if it keeps them off the street, it's money well spent.'

By contrast, well-meaning staff from Connexions - the careers guidance service - spent days roaming the streets in the London borough of Barking, unable to find anyone to help. Advisor Elwyn Lonque complained 'If they can't get out of the house, there's not much more I can do.'

So, the 'incentives' work. But what about the seven who didn't finish the Bournemouth course? Maybe they already had iPods?

• Worried your child might end up a 'neet?' Can good exams help them out of despair? Or are today's tests too easy?
  See our GCSE discussion here.
  
• This Week's News