Evening News Online
by Caroline Wilson
Friday, February 08, 2008
Most of the eight teenagers on the pilot scheme in
When the students started the course at
Dr Laing said: "The change in them all since starting the course has been quite incredible.
"They are no longer verbally aggressive and angry but are keen to learn and attentive."
The course combines literacy and numeracy lessons with computer and life skills. Youngsters are taught how to set up bank accounts and are taken on confidence-building outings.
The course was set up to tackle the problem of young people who are not in education, employment or training, or NEETs.
The NC in Digital Media is designed to tap into skills young people already have, such as blogging on the internet.
Dr Laing said: "The students have all faced personal challenges, some had had very difficult backgrounds. I am so proud of them for coming this far.
"There is still a lot of work to be done before I would say they are employable but we are all getting there."
Abdi Siyad, 18, from Knights-wood, left school in fifth year with one Standard Grade and was drawn into gang violence.
He said: "I'd applied to other colleges before and always been rejected. Since starting the course I've not been in trouble with the police and I'm more friendly and polite to others."
Abdi, who is originally from
Two other students have already applied for further education courses and another two intend to stay on and develop their computing skills.
The course is funded by the Scottish Government.
Source: Evening News Online, Feb 08, 2008