Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Counting the cost of early school leaving

By John Spierings - posted Friday, 15 October 1999


Providing an array of personal supports, signposted choices and pathways, re-entry opportunities at numerous points into a variety of alternative settings – both in education and employment – are key ingredients.

A logical, cost-effective and timely approach to this issue would be the development of a national Youth Commitment, which has been supported by the OECD. This proposal is aimed at young people under the age of 20 who have left school without completing Year 12 and who are not in full-time work and not studying.

It would assist early school leavers to either:

Advertisement
  • return to school or its equivalent in order to complete Year 12; or
  • obtain an education and training qualification that is at an equivalent level such as a TAFE certificate or an apprenticeship; or
  • obtain a full-time job that is linked to education and training.

Early school leavers would have a guaranteed access to two or perhaps three years full-time education equivalent to the completion of Year 12, which they could put together by combining a variety of options from schools, other providers and accredited on-the-job training.

Transition brokers would be placed in at least every government secondary school to work with young people, especially potential early school leavers, and enable them to access the Commitment.

The Commitment would be delivered through locally based community partnerships of local governments, schools and their School Councils, TAFE, Job Network brokers, Centrelink offices, employers, training organisations, unions, community agencies, and others.

The Commitment would cost an additional $350 million a year, or a 0.1 per cent increase in government outlays on education as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product. To a large extent this is a cost that would be incurred in any case by governments if the young person coming under the scope of the Commitment had decided to remain at school.

It would ensure that communities absolutely minimized the potential for any young person leaving school to ‘fall through the cracks’, and would enable each young person to make an informed choice about his or her future.

Advertisement

The Commitment makes sense at every level: it offers better service, better outcomes and it is affordable. Indeed the 'do nothing' alternative is in effect much more costly.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Dr John Spierings is a Research Strategist with the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF). The Forum will publish The Cost to Australia of Early School Leaving, a major study undertaken by NATSEM and Why Australia needs a national Youth Commitment. Both are available from DSF.

Related Links
Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF)
NATSEM
University of Canberra
Photo of John Spierings
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy