Raising school leaving age finds support

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 4

Raising school leaving age finds support

PA Wellington Raising the school leaving age from the present level of 15 as mooted in a Parliamentary select committee report last week has the backing of the Secondary School Boards’ Association. The Education and Science Select Committee’s report on the quality of teaching recommended an urgent investigation into raising the school leaving age, possibly to as high as 18. It said this would give a longer and sounder education to all young people. The association’s president, Mr Glen Evans, said yesterday that the association also supported a higher school leaving age, although it believed any increases should be introduced gradually. “I think the first step would clearly be to go to 16. To go from 15 straight

to 18 would be too big a jump and quite ludicrous,” Mr Evans said.

He said it was important to make sure resources were available to provide an education which held the interest of all pupils. They should not be kept at school against their will. Mr Evans said the association believed a higher school leaving age would make sure more young people left school with an adequate education.

Compared with other countries, New Zealand had big numbers leaving school with no formal qualification, and participation in tertiary training was low.

“The time has got to come when •we ensure that all our children are better catered for and to a greater age than 15,” Mr Evans said.