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There are several reasons why a Government may wish to increase the school leaving age. Some reasons may be a reflection on the lack of skilled labour in the country, whilst others may simply be a way of reducing a country's unemployment figures. The majority of countries have their leaving age set the same as the legal age of minimum employment, which is the ideal setup for a smooth transition into employment from compulsory schooling. ASIA Israel The school leaving age was raised from 16 to 18 following a law change on 17 July 2007. The change will be implemented within three years of the law being passed. Knesset raises school dropout age to 18 Haaretz, 18 July 2007 In the 2005-6 school year 5.6% of students left school before the age of 18, mostly at age 16; the dropout rate was highest amongst Bedouin (9.8%) and lowest amongst Jew ish students (4.7%). AUSTRALASIA Australia The current age which a child can leave compulsory education in the state of New South Wales is currently 15. However, the Government of New South Wales started considering raising the age to 16 in November 2006, with the Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt mentioning "all the research shows that if students either get their Higher School Certificate or an equivalent vocational qualification, then their employment opportunities in later life are far greater and so is their income-earning capacity." She mentions the change to the school leaving age is being combined with more subject options to make sure school remains relevant for all students. NSW Govt considers raising school leaving age ABC News, 17 November 2006 The state of South Australia also suggested similar propoals in March 2006, saying that their school minimum age should be raised to from 16 17 by 2008. Independant state MP Bob Such suggests that it may not happen for at least another four years, whilst in the meantime, too many children are leaving school without any qualifications. MP moots change to school-leaving age ABC News, 10 March 2006 Tasmania has for decades had their school leaving age set at 16. School: leaving it too early Online Opinion, 1 September 2005 EUROPE Belgium School leaving age in Belgium is set at 18. France The statutory minimum school leaving age in France is 16. There are however a few specific cases where young people may enter employment before the age of 16, such as employment in the parents’ company, Sporadic work or young people who have left school early taking up an Apprenticeship at 15, to name a few. Contribution to EIRO thematic feature on Youth and work - case of France EIRO, 5 March 2007 Germany School leaving age in Germany is set at 18. Italy Until recently in Italy , students could leave school once they reached the age of 14. The compulsory school-leaving age was raised to 16 years of age, to bring the country into line with the rest of the EU . International Living's Italy FACT FILE International Living The reform of the educational system presently underway in Italy has increased the school leaving age to 18 years of age. Apprentices below the age of 18 without occupational qualifications are offered the option of completing compulsory education required by Italian law. Title of good practice: Basic skills for minor apprentices European Civil Society Netherlands School leaving age in Netherlands is set at 18. Poland The most recent occurrence of the school leaving age being raised in Poland was in 1999, when the Polish government proposed an overhaul of the country's education system, resulting in school attendance being made compulsory up to the age of 18. One of the reasons given for this change is related to financial pressures placed on countries seeking to Liberalise their Economies , with the cost of school buildings, staff and equipment proving too much for some emerging economies. Poland to raise school-leaving age to 18 BBC News, 28 May 1998 Spain In Spain , compulsory education is enforced from the age of 6, with their school leaving age set at 16. Spain RightToEducation.org, 12 November 2001 United Kingdom See Also: Raising of school leaving age in the UK The school leaving age in the and to 16 in 1972, along with the addition of ROSLA Buildings and Middle Schools . The Government has proposals to raise the age again to 18 in 2013, which it believes will tackle the lack of unskilled labour in the country School leaving age set to be 18 BBC News, 12 January 2007, with the . Plans for this were soon dropped when the Government needed to cut public spending after World War I , as was the case when attempts were made to raise it in 1944, with cuts in spending after World War II dropping any plans preparing for it. Under-18s who leave school to be fined The Independent, 23 March 2007 REFERENCES |
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