GETTING youngsters into higher education to meet Government targets will challenge Lewisham and Greenwich according to a new report.

Currently the national average for 18 to 30 year-olds taking their education further, is 34 per cent, both boroughs are below this figure at 25 per cent for Greenwich and 31 per cent for Lewisham. The Government target is 50 per cent.

The independent report by auditors KPMG discovered clusters of higher education uptake in Lewisham and west Greenwich, but low levels in southern areas of both boroughs.

Warden of New Cross-based Goldsmiths College Professor Ben Pimlott, described it as a challenging situation.

He said: "The study's results are even more shocking than expected. They show a massive lack of awareness of higher education among the groups the Government is trying to reach."

University of Greenwich vice chancellor professor Rick Trainor said: "There needs to be a real desire to get out of the campus and continue engaging with those young people who do not believe higher education has anything to offer."

January 28, 2003 11:00