New initiatives specifically aimed at young people at risk of social exclusion – including those with a disability, migrants and LGBT youths – will be developed under a new National Youth Policy announced yesterday.

The policy, which ad-dresses all 13 to 30-year-olds, will be implemented over the next six years and aims to support young people in “fulfilling their potential and aspirations” while encouraging their active participation in society.

Among a wide-ranging set of action plans, the policy includes the creation of new spaces for young people and youth organisations at the local, community level, as well as measures to enhance young people’s prospects for entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the launch of the policy, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo expressed serious concern over the fact that some 1,000 young people – nearly a quarter of the total – who left school in 2014 are currently not in education, employment or training.

I also feel – and this may sound a bit romantic – that young people don’t have enough of a spirit of adventure

The number of people doing nothing once they leave school is roughly equivalent to 50 per cent of those entering university.

“We cannot avoid asking why,” the minister said.

Noting that youth unemployment and graduate employment figures re-mained very positive, Mr Bartolo commented that the figures may be hiding a growing phenomenon of underemployment.

“I also feel – and this may sound a bit romantic – that young people don’t have enough of a spirit of adventure,” he said, pointing to the low take-up of overseas educational and training opportunities.

Also speaking during the launch were parliamentary secretary Chris Agius shadow minister David Agius, CEO of Aġenzija Żgħażagħ Miriam Theuma and representatives of youth organisations.