Youngsters at risk of getting into trouble with police are being monitored throughout the summer, the Education Minister told MPs on Friday.

Terry Lister said the Government was running a scheme during July and August for those students classified as ?behaviourally challenged?.

During a statement on the summer programmes offered by the Government, he told the House of Assembly: ?There is one programme which spans both July and August. It is not an on-site programme per se, but rather, it involves the monitoring of young people who are classified as behaviourally challenged.

?Under the supervision of the programme co-ordinator, staff go out and ensure that these young people are on target with their summer activities and more importantly, that they do not find themselves in difficult positions, especially with the law.

?I am pleased to say that in the past we have recorded the data and can see that, because of this type of intervention, none of the monitored students were involved in any skirmishes with the law.?

Other programmes include one targeted at pupils with special needs from Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and one for pre-schoolers who are ?unready? to enter primary school.

Mr. Lister said the courses also gave some students the chance to grasp concepts they had struggled with during the school year.

?We recognise that every student may learn at a different pace,? he said. ?Some students may master a concept right away. Other students may understand a concept but need more time to fully master it. Other students might just need to have more than one chance to understand it and to get it right.

?We are proud that we are able to afford students who need more time the opportunity to have it.?