ONE out of every 12 young people in Latin America and the Caribbean failed to finish elementary school and lack qualifications for finding a job, according to the Education for All Follow-up Report.

The study, undertaken by UNESCO, highlights the need for investment in the education sector to equip youth with necessary skills and knowledge for the labor market.

According to the report, more than eight million Latin Americans aged 15-24 years need alternatives to acquire the knowledge to help them find work and improve their standard of living.

UNESCO noted that, at a time when the effects of the economic crisis continue overwhelming societies worldwide, this serious lack of competence among young men and women is more harmful than ever.

Irina Bokoya, director general of UNESCO, affirms that investing in the training of this population sector is crucial in order to halt unemployment and the frustration of millions of people. Additionally, it would contribute to breaking the sentence of poverty to which they are condemned for the rest of their lives.

Bokoya states that the young people most affected in the15-24 age group are migrants, members of ethnic minorities and females.

UNESCO emphasized that the key is to equip girls and boys with the necessary tools for finding a worthy job, achieving their potential and contributing to society.

The report reveals that the highest deficits are reading and numeric weaknesses among young people, and underlines that in countries with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the level of knowledge about these diseases is very low and only 7% of students have adequate information on its prevention and treatment.

Bokova said that a generation frustrated by the chronic imbalance between acquiring competence and the demands of the labor market is currently emerging.

Finally, the report acknowledges important advances in learning in countries such as Guatemala; however, it notes that very few countries are on the way to attaining the 2000 Millennium Development Goals in the context of education for all. (Taken from Granma)