Prospects are poor for most of the care leavers

The Scottish Executive statistics also showed that the number of children on the child protection register had risen by 271 to 2,289, with the greatest rise in the number of children at risk of "emotional abuse".

The children's social work statistics revealed that there were almost 11,400 children "looked after" by Scottish local authorities - these are children requiring some form of local authority social work intervention.

The number represents 1% of the under-18 population.

These statistics are a terrible indictment of a system which still lets down too many children in care Peter Peacock Education minister

The figures for the year ending 31 March 2003 showed that 60% of 16 and 17-year-olds who left care did so with no qualification, employment or training.

This was the same proportion as in the previous 12-month's figures.

A fifth of these teenagers also endured times when they were homelessness in the year after leaving care.

Education Minister Peter Peacock said: "These statistics are a terrible indictment of a system which still lets down too many children in care.

Staff vacancies

"Put simply, looked after children are condemned to a life of difficulty because of failing services.

"This is a wholly unacceptable situation. These children deserve the same chances in life as any other children and we will not stand by and watch them miss out."

Mr Peacock said an additional �10m had been given to local authorities last year to improve the education of looked after children and the results of this would be monitored in years to come.

"We have also placed a new duty on local authorities to fully assess the needs of young people leaving care, including their need for housing, training or employment support," the minister added.

The real problem in this whole area has been a distinct lack of funding, by central government, for children's services generally Cosla

The figures showed that the number of children on the protection register had risen by 13% on the previous year.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive stressed that the increase did not necessarily mean a rise in children being abused and could result from factors such as better monitoring.

Care staff numbers in 2002 were similar to those in 2001 while the level of vacancies rose by about a third which "suggests a 4% increase in posts".

Nationalists called on the executive to "think long and hard" about ways to reduce the number of social work vacancies.

SNP education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop MSP said: "While it is vitally important that children who are at risk are put on the child protection register, it is of little use when the number of job vacancies in social work departments has risen by over 33% since 2001.

'Extra funding'

Cosla said a lack of funding remained a key factor in service provision.

President Pat Watters said: "Cosla recognises that the education of looked after children is a priority and has been pressing the executive for extra funding for children's services for a long time and I can only stress again local government's commitment to working to the best of its ability to deliver for looked after children.

"Every child in Scotland matters and that is why councils endeavour to provide high quality services for them all not only in education but right across the board.

"Success in our schools and improving the education of all children must remain the collective aim of both central and local government but the real problem in this whole area has been a distinct lack of funding, by central government, for children's services generally.