I completely agree with the first post by Alex. The educationial system is a complete & utter sham!

Sara, Yorkshire,

Are they also planning to raise the age of consent and marriage or are they going to provide free child care to all the mums who are 16 and 17?

Diana Kimpton, Cowes, Isle of Wight

Does this not tell you that you are nothing but a human resource, a slave, a serf in an old feudal sysyem to work and act for the elite?

Dennis, USA....bad here too with the socialist communist democrats and neocon republicans, both the same ...tyrants!

Dennis, Gainesville, USA...Missouri

Here we go again! Another fascist reform to mislead the public about the real issues. Schooling is not education. Indoctrination woul be a more appropriate term. Nobody want to spend their lives being bored to death by a bunch of repeaters that have being brainwashed in order to brainwash others.

Alex, London,

goverment ministers really don't have any idea. In Norfolk there are so few education, training or employment oppotunities for 16 and 17 year olds that actually fit with the abilities of the 16 and 17 year olds. Many are from the lower income bracket families that are not academic. Manufacturing industry is disappearing which is where these young people would have been employed in the past. further more to impose a fine on a person that does not have an income will result in none payment and court appearances. this will result in a criminal record and further alienating young people. The world is already aganist them.

Deni, Norfolk,

Hmm... let's see... we could go out and listen to teenagers, teachers and employers. We could work with them on continually and incrementally improving the situation, step-by-step, with the aim that every year a few more young people *want* or at least see the value in staying in school or training.

Nah... that sounds like really hard work let's just knock out some shabby legislation making it illegal. That'll instantly make Britain *look* better in the international league tables.

Sure, the result will be that teachers and employers will have to baby-sit a bunch of disruptive and disengaged teenagers that are being forced to turn up against their will. But that's not our problem the important thing is the numbers look better!

Etienne , cambridge, cambs

Labour camps are a good idea, Jennifer Hynes. I favour national service as they have in other EU countries. I know many people who have completely wasted their lives and could not have done so without benefits. A year or two of national service early on would have sorted at least some of them out.

Eugene, Chester, England

Actually, according to BBC news, the proposal to increase the 'school leaving age' only applies to England, and not to the other countries of Britain. For the education attainments of their young people, does not require the adoption of this proposal by their respective Governments.

Gerallt Huws, Talsarnau, Cymru

I am aghast. I have never heard such a stupid and obviously ill-thought out policy since the last Labour policy came to light. Perhaps the government is considering Labour camps next, or what about chain gangs?

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

what a barmpot of an idea, how are these kids going to pay the fine if they are not working, looks like parents are going to get hammered once again. This government must stay awake all night thinking up these crazy ideas. Youths today don't give a toss about authority, and with good cause when you veiw the antics of our politicians, I wouldn't like to tackle 17 @ 18 year olds, this policy will create havock and riots. Mind you this is probably a trap for the Tories to carry out, because Labour won't be in power.

waine UK, mersyside, UK

"If Neets faced being drafted into the armed forces, the problem would resolve itself very quickly."

Comments like the above are part of the problem and no part of any soution.

Britain has lost the plot and is no longer Great - and it certainly won't be made Great by fascist dictatorship.

K. Harris - English, Limerick, Ireland

If teenagers are not working, how will they pay the fines? No doubt from their State benefits.

carole chapman, corridonia, i

Will this only apply to indigenous teenagers or immigrant teenagers as well?

Anil Chatterjee , Bury, Lancashire,

So 17 & 18 year olds are to be schoolchildren again, it will be a spectacular trick if they can pull it off. They can't even get our 14 and 15 year olds to go to school. It will turn into a benefits for work scam similar to the US precedent.

Tazia Hollinger, Belfast, Ireland

If the gvt offered a college/university education to everyone, then there would be no button pushers, machine operators and unskilled workers to keep the machine ticking over

Damon N, scarborough,

I often wonder if our politicians are actually living in the real world, that's the one the rest of us occupy. NuLabour's propensity for issuing fines in order to combat any dissent that may be met by their hair-brained schemes has now reached a new level with Mr Balls idea to fine 16-18 year olds if they don't comply with his indentured training! Whom does Mr Balls think is going to pay these fines? The majority of youngsters who do not continue with further education are from poorer social backgroungs were the family is likely to be on minimum wages or benefits, and fines will only make matters worse not better for them. Our education system is failing because nobody wants to admit that you cannot teach those who do not wish to learn, whilst 'Every Child Matters', not all are suited to an academic education. Returning in part to the old grammar system will give back the aspirations this brought to people, together with improved secondary and vocational training schools.

Les, Southport, England.

I'm just appalled that sane, supposedly educated people(goverment ministers) actually believe this is a solution to school drop out's. What are you thinking?

Anyone with a teenager knows you can't force them to do anything. But if you make it interesting enough to keep them engaged, they are your's forever.

I just can't believe that I'm living in the UK, more and more I see the goverment practicing Stalinism. What's next, camp's in the Heberdies for non-complient teens or maybe senior citizens?

The Labour goverment's duel line of thought seems to be allow rampant capitalism to degrade everything worthwhile in the UK, filling the coffer's of the far-left socialists and at the same time saddle the common citizens with so much nanny stateism that they are too overwhelmed to protest.

Joshua, Buckeye/London, USA/UK

If Neets faced being drafted into the armed forces, the problem would resolve itself very quickly.

Geoff Edwards, Vancouver, Canada