SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has welcomed new figures showing more Hamilton, Lanarkshire, and Stonehouse School leavers are in study, work or training than a decade ago.
Across Scotland, a record proportion of young people were in a positive destination three months after leaving school last year. The gap between those from the most and least deprived communities achieving a positive destination are at the lowest since 2009-10.
In South Lanarkshire, the number of unemployed school leavers seeking work fell from 11.1% in 2009/10 to 2.5% in 2018/19.
Over the same time period the number of school leavers going directly to higher education rose from 38.5% to 44.8%.
Commenting on this, SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said:
“It is very welcoming that significant progress proves that more young people in South Lanarkshire are going on to positive destinations such as work and to study straight from school.
“For the ninth consecutive years, more young Scots are in study, training or work three months after leaving school than ever before.
“It’s particularly welcoming that the gap between the richest and poorest communities for those moving into a positive destination continues to narrow.
“This demonstrates that Curriculum for Excellence is delivering one of the ultimate aim
s of school education - to secure a positive next step in learning, life and work for our young people.”