Schools Plus

Schools Plus is a controversial New Zealand education policy, proposed by Prime Minister Helen Clark. The policy originally aimed to implement a higher school-leaving age (currently 16) however was eventually changed, with its new scope being to require those under 18 to be involved in some form of educational process.

Introduction

The policy was first announced by Clark during the annual statement (state of the nation speech) to Parliament, on February 12, 2008, along with statistics that showed 30% of New Zealand teenagers were leaving school before the age of 17 and 40% of those failed to achieve the second level of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10492010&pnum=0|title=Helen Clark's full speech|publisher=New Zealand Herald|first=Helen|last=Clark|date=2008-12-02|accessdate=2008-09-22]

The policy was intensely debated throughout New Zealand and eventually reannounced by Clark on September 19, 2008. The reannouncement included numerous changes to the policy to rebut criticism that it was simply an attempt to raise the school-leaving age. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10502128&pnum=0|title=Reasons to be cheerful parts 1, 2, 3|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=2008-04-05|accessdate=2008-09-23|last=Young|first=Audrey] The full effect of Schools Plus will come into effect in 2014.cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10533068|title=Clark sets 2014 deadline for education to age 18|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=2008-09-19|accessdate=2008-09-22|author=NZPA] [cite web|url=http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/SchoolsPlus/Summary.aspx|title=Summary of initiatives|accessdate=2008-09-22|publisher=Ministry of Education]

Proposal

The original proposal was to raise the minimum age required to leave school in New Zealand from 16 to 18 and to remove the current procedure making it possible for an exemption to be obtained by anyone aged 15. Clark asserted the implementation of the policy came in light of concerns that a large number of New Zealand teenagers were leaving school with few or no qualifications. [cite web|url=http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/SchoolsPlus/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx#general1|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Why is Schools Plus needed?|publisher=Ministry of Education|accessdate=2008-09-23]

After intense debate the proposal was changed in a reannouncement seven months later. The altered policy no longer alters the minimum leaving age but still abolishes the possibility of acquiring an exemption, [cite web|url=http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/SchoolsPlus/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx#student2|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Why has the government decided to remove the early leaving exemption provision?|accessdate=2008-09-23|publisher=Ministry of Education] [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4686968a6000.html|title=School age exemptions face axe|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-23|last=Broun|first=Britton] and makes it mandatory for school-leavers younger than 18 to still be involved in further education outside of school, such as an apprenticeship or through a polytechnic.cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10533232|title=Underachievers to finish school at polytechnic|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=2008-09-20|last=McKenzie-Minifie|first=Martha|accessdate=2008-09-23]

The first effects of the policy are set to be introduced in 2011 when an education and training age will be established for school-leavers aged 17. The full policy will come into effect in 2014 when the education and training age will be lifted to 18.

The policy is expected to cost NZ$150m to cover staffing, capital and operational costs. [cite web|url=http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/SchoolsPlus/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx#general4|title=Frequently Asked Questions - What will Schools Plus cost?|publisher=Ministry of Education|accessdate=2008-09-23] cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4699160a6160.html|title=Govt plan to extend school age|accessdate=2008-09-23|date=2008-09-20|last=Hartevelt|first=John|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand]

Reaction

Schools Plus has drawn significant negative reaction. The Post-Primary Teachers' Association labelled it a "draconian and simplistic response to a complex problem", citing that forcing students to remain at school does not "radically [transform them to be] enthusiastic and attentive", however, while opposed to the removal of exemptions, the PPTA welcomes the program on the basis that other programs have been proven to work. [cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED0809/S00059.htm|title=Phasing in of Schools Plus a positive move|date=2008-09-19|accessdate=2008-09-23|publisher=Scoop] National Party leader John Key said the policy was an admission from labour that their policies were failing and that many young people had jobs that they were learning from. Key claims the policy is a "rehash" of plans that were announced six years ago in that they are very similar to the "Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs" agreement the Government formed in 2002 and that Schools Plus was "the same announcement". Peter Gall, president of the Secondary Principals Association, criticised the policy as not taking into account "special cases" where leaving school was the only option and that the current crackdown on school leavers results in students remaining on the roll but not turning up to class. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10531389|title=Teens face crackdown on early school exits|date=2008-09-10|last=McKenzie-Minifie|first=Martha|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2008-09-23] Schools Plus was also boycotted by fifteen schools who refused to acknowledge the proposal until funding shortages were addressed. [cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10515388&pnum=0|title=Carter disappointed by schools' boycott|date=2008-06-10|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=2008-09-23|last=McKenzie-Minifie|first=Martha]

See also

* Education in New Zealand

References

External links

* [http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/EducationInitiatives/SchoolsPlus.aspx Ministry of Education - Schools Plus]