Word puzzles

[Deepurple]

They can learn that just as well in any group of kids - in a local youth group, or football club, or down at the rec.

I've known people leave school at 16 or 18 and know nothing except perhaps their times tables and where Burkina Faso is and what the repeal of the corn laws was all about (beats me).

In the sentence above, I would like to know the meaning of the underlined phrases, which I have looked up the dictionary but in vain.

Thank you.

 

[Tdol]

Rec- place where they can play games, do sports
Burkina Faso- country in Africa: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uv.html