Raising the School Leaving Age
Votes: 9
by Crispin 10:35am, 15 February 2008
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Currently in NSW young people are able to leave school at fifteen. This age was set over sixty years ago during World War II. It is no longer relevant in the current economic environment, and maintaining such a low expectation sells our young people short. Raising the school leaving age to at least 16 is one way we can make sure that in New South Wales all our young people aim higher and do their best in our very challenging world. This proposal is part the NSW Labour Government’s strategy under to increase levels of attainment for all students, strengthen our economy and support families. The discussion paper identifies the issues in raising the leaving age and maps different options. What do you think of this idea?
In considering the range of reform options open to the Government, the community is invited to provide input on the following five key questions:
1. To what age should the school leaving age be increased: 16, 17 or 18 years?
2. Should an increase in the legal school leaving age be accompanied by further requirements that young people be engaged in education, training or productive work until a specified older age, such as 17 or 18?
3. What would a higher minimum leaving age mean for employers, parents, students and the wider community?
4. What other strategies are needed to ensure that students are supported to stay on at school?
5. What strategies are needed to ensure that NSW’s high standards of achievement at school are maintained?
6. What should the future role and purpose of the School Certificate be if we raise the minimum leaving age?
Relates to
document: School Leaving Age
(3.2 MB)
RDR
Mar 05, 2008 12:22pm
4
0 
I wonder if keeping kids at school longer just raises the bar and makes it hared for some of us, no matter how long we stay at school, to get a job in the end.
I also wonder if keeping kids at school longer means that we have to dumb it down more to keep them there. I recon better teachers keep kids in school longer.
RaDeL
Mar 18, 2008 02:24pm
7
1
It should not be increased at all.
People should be able to leave school at the end of year 10 whatever age they are.
I am 15 and currently in year 11 i am turning 16 in june..
But i am at the same education level as everyone in my year so why shouldn't I be given the option of leaving school at the age of 15.
Even though i didn't leave at the end of year 10 I still had my School Certificate Like everyone else and i believe that if 16 year olds had the right to leave i should have too.
I know this rule hasn't come in yet and i hope that it never will it is absolutely ridiculous.
Its not my fault I am younger than the people in my year.
Employers should be more open to hire 15 year olds! I have a job and i am doing fine at it.
This thing is stupid.
kezza
Mar 18, 2008 04:11pm
5
1
if kids are not willing to learn then they will simply block out the teacher and do what they want any way.
I believe that the leaving time should be at the end of year ten after you have your school certificate.
With your school certificate you have a better chance at finding a job. So i think getting your school certificate should be compulsory no matter what age .. 15 or 16
Also i think they should offer more suitable services to help obtain a job.
I have an older brother who went through a period when the business he was working for was sold and he had to inform centrelink he was out of work. It is now a couple of months later and he has had a job for about three months yet the other day he received a message saying that he had an interview coming up.
yet he had informed centrelink and the branch they passed him off onto (ipc i think) that he now had a job and didn't need their assistance.
We need services that actually listen to us young people and help us.
I understand that youth unemployment is becoming a problem but there should be better ways to cope with this then by forcing kids to stay at school.
and those who do not want to learn make it more difficult for those who do.
Lylea McMahon MP
Mar 18, 2008 08:25pm
2
0
Kezza, Do you think that leaving school should be related to achieving an academic milestone (ie school certificate, HSC, rather than an age (16, 17 etc)? If so what academic or vocational qualifications should you be required to have?
Further more, there is a great deal of research that shows that the higher the level of educational attainment, whether it be academic or vocational, the better the employment prospects are for the individual. This idea is explored more in the discussion paper that is located in the library section of this site.
I would be interested to hear your views on what needs to be done to ensure that young people find education engaging.
I will certainly pass on your comments with respect to Centrelink on to the Federal Member.
Cheers
Lylea
Lethal
Mar 25, 2008 12:03pm
3
0
by raising the leaving age will give all students a fighting chance at finding a job because its not fair for the students who are trying to get a job and may have failed thier certificate but even still who said it was abad thing to complete the preliminary course for your HSC and then drop out.
ppl should get off thier butts, if you want a job get out their and try dont just quit after yr 10, soon that certificate will be obsolete.
BE KOOL, STAY @ SKOOL
Lylea McMahon MP
Mar 27, 2008 09:15am
3
1
Lethal
Your catch phrase "Be Kool, Stay @ Skool" was really very good.
cheers
Lylea
richard11
Jun 20, 2008 06:54pm
1
0
Hey Crispin,
I believe increasing the school leaving age would be bad for some and good for others ...
I think that kids that don't want to be at school will just reek havoc on the other students who are their to work and the poor teachers who will have to control them.
However I believe that the leaving age should be taken to 16 as now it is only 15 and I don't think it will make much more of a difference but may give them an extra year to think about it.
I also belive that when people get in to their senior years they should not be asked to leave if their marks are lagging behind as they want to give it a go and the teachers could work something out to help these kids! As I have seen this happen to many of my friends, and I don't believe it is fair!!!
Thanks ...