University of Melbourne Newsroom 24 August 2012
A University of Melbourne study has backed tough government measures to “coerce” early school leavers back in to education.
Previous studies have shown kids who drop out of school have difficulty finding work, and often accept low paying jobs. Lead author Dr Cain Polidano said this bolsters the case for “coercive measures” to make teenagers re-engage in study.
Already the Federal Government requires some school leavers to return to education before they can claim income support. Similar measures should be considered to further encourage a return to study.
The report questioned the effectiveness of simply lifting the age when teenagers are allowed to leave school, as a means of encouraging further study.
While keeping kids in school should be the first priority, the modest improvement in school completion rates since the mid-1990s underlines the importance of also having programs to encourage early school leavers to return to study.
