NSW is rising the minimum school leaving age to 17. Students will be required to complete their school certificate and unless they have under taken vocational training programs (read apprenticeships) their higher school certificate.
Now the government's logic is that research shows that people with a better education they're more likely to be employed, earn a better income and has additional health benefits.
I think the government's logic is flawed. That stuff is only true because of the type of people who choose to remain in school are usually the sort who will go and look for work, rather then just live on the dole. People who actively look for work will usually have a higher income and people who are employed and with more money can afford better medical treatment.
Making people who do not want to be in school to remain there does not mean that these benefits somehow flow into them by osmosis. In fact it will have the opposite effect to what the government wnats to acheive. What it will do will be to lower the marking average of the HSC and school certificate. A few years from now people will be whinging about how hard the HSC is because a large majority of students are struggling. The SC and HSC will be revised (dumbed down) to enusre that students have the best chance to enter into uni
And because they won't increase uni placements, the marks needed for uni will keep going up and the HSC will contiune to be readvised.
I'm reminded of futurama. I'm a college drop out. Not now, you're only the equailvent of a high school drop out.
Now the government's logic is that research shows that people with a better education they're more likely to be employed, earn a better income and has additional health benefits.
I think the government's logic is flawed. That stuff is only true because of the type of people who choose to remain in school are usually the sort who will go and look for work, rather then just live on the dole. People who actively look for work will usually have a higher income and people who are employed and with more money can afford better medical treatment.
Making people who do not want to be in school to remain there does not mean that these benefits somehow flow into them by osmosis. In fact it will have the opposite effect to what the government wnats to acheive. What it will do will be to lower the marking average of the HSC and school certificate. A few years from now people will be whinging about how hard the HSC is because a large majority of students are struggling. The SC and HSC will be revised (dumbed down) to enusre that students have the best chance to enter into uni
And because they won't increase uni placements, the marks needed for uni will keep going up and the HSC will contiune to be readvised.
I'm reminded of futurama. I'm a college drop out. Not now, you're only the equailvent of a high school drop out.
posted by Renegade79 at 6:39 pm
2 Comments:
I agree that this will mostly signify a decline in relative standards and people will winge about being unable to secure young apprentices.
Another consideration is also the TAFE blending they usually have for vocational work.
Another two years of schooling will not alter the net supply of available jobs, just because students have a higher average knowledge level (assuming dedicated students not just there because they HAVE to be).
The only effect on jobs would be is the higher attainment level increased the propensity of some talent that might have been lost, blooming late-ish and creating small businesses or their own self-employment opportunities. Granted, this will be a small effect.
Lastly, if they are not leaving school early, then they are not causing trouble because they are too busy skipping school rather than not going to it... hang on.... what?
There's also funding issues, both state and federal to consider.
The state government has just cut school funding (the back to school allowance - Only $50 per student know, but still) thus placing even more burden on families. The most expensive years of school are senior years.
If families can't afford the equipment the students need then they are going to suffer even more with low grades.
The federal government is planning on linking funding with test scores. Private schools will became more picky about their students. They'll drop under performing students for ones who'll pick up the school's average and thus perpetuate the myth that private schools are better educators (thus drive up fees. Then the independent schools association will call for increase funding in the name of choice etc....)
With more onus being placed on struggling families and federal funding at risk, it will be schools in the lower social-economic areas that will suffer. Thus again increase the educational divide between the haves and the have nots.
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