Aust, youth survey supports staying at school longer

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 45

Aust, youth survey supports staying at school longer

NZPA-AAP Canberra

A national youth survey commissioned by the Australian Federal Government has found strong support for moves to encourage young people to stay at school longer. The Government hopes to have more than 50 per cent of pupils staying on to Year 12 by the end of his year compared with 36 per cent when it came to office in 1983. The survey, conducted by A.N.O.P. research services, found that 76 per cent of people under 25 now supported the drive for higher retention rates compared with 69 per cent in a similar survey in 1984. Of those expressing reservation, 11 per cent suppored Year 10 leavers being encouraged to finish Year 11 and 12 at a “special school” or technical college, bringing the total number supporting education after Year 10 to 87 per cent. The survey also found that employment was seen by both young and old as the most important issue for young people generally. Just under two in every 10 young people named unemployment as one of their main immediate worries, and another one in 10 were concerned about career prospect and decisions.

While fewer young people felt concerned about finding work compared with 1984 figures, it was still felt that finding work was difficult for young people, particularly jobs they would “ideally” want.

The survey also revealed a somewhat surprising decline in sympathy among young people for the young unemployed in terms of the level of benefits they received, although the majority still felt benefits were too little.

It also found ground swell support for “working for the dole” — an ideal effectively shelved by the Hawke Government (regarding a compulsory scheme) although still backed by the Federal Opposition. The survey report noted, however, that support was based on the belief that it would be constructive in terms of building confidence, motivating young people and providing experience. “There is very little consideration evident of the practicalities and costs of implementing a compulsory scheme,” the report said. The Federal Government support for traineeships was backed as a means of providing job experience, on-the-job training and improved job

prospects but there was concern that they did not guarantee a job. There was, however, a very low understanding of exactly what traineeships involved.

A solid 95 per cent of people under 25 supported them once informed of exactly that they entailed. The survey also found a more sophisticated approach to unemployment, focusing on the need for Government to work towards providing training, skills and activities (work for the dole) rather than simply calling for more jobs to be created.

Mr Hawke noted that the survey had found young people wanted the Government to provide more information and advice on job, education and other initiatives and opportunities through schools and local information centres.

He responded that the Government would set up a comprehensive school information programme to reinforce the advantage of staying on to Year 12 and make students aware of allowances they might be eligible for. The Government was also increasing to 100 the number of Youth Access Centres — a type of one-stop-shop for information about all Federal Government services for young people.