Raising of school leaving age

The Raising Of School Leaving Age (often shortened to ROSLA) is an act brought into force when the legal age a child is allowed to leave compulsory education increases. In most countries, the school leaving age often reflects when young people are seen to be mature enough within their society, but not necessarily when they are old enough to be regarded as an Adult.

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. [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/883341.html 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 Jewish 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 or 17 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. [ [http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/11/17/1790995.htm NSW Govt considers raising school leaving age] ABC News, 17 November 2006]

The state of South Australia also suggested similar proposals in March 2006, saying that their school minimum age should be raised from 16 to 17 by 2008. Independent 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. The age will be raised by law on January 1 2009 to 17. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/03/10/1589033.htm MP moots change to school-leaving age] ABC News, 10 March 2006]

Tasmania has for decades had their school leaving age set at 16, with a requirement to be participating in education or training until age 17 recently enacted as of 2007 according to the Department of Education. [http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/educators/guaranteeing-futures/requiringparticipation] Department of Education Guaranteeing Futures legislation 16 July 2008] [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=217 School: leaving it too early] Online Opinion, 1 September 2005]

The Western Australian government is pushing the minimum school leaving age up from 15 in 2006 to 17 in January 2007 and to 17 in January 2008. This should stay set in place for many years to come.

Victoria changed their school leaving age from 15 to 16 in 2006.

The minimum ages from 2009 will be.

Northern Territory - 15ACT - 15 (possibly changing to 17),South Australia - 17,Queensland - 17,Victoria - 16,Western Australia - 17,NSW - 15 (possibly changing to 16), Tasmania - 16 (with a condition to be in study or training until age 17 unless exempted).

* Some states allow exemptions for students of a certain age normally 15-16 to work fulltime instead of school.

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 14, to name a few. The apprenticeship option is becoming increasingly popular [ [http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2005/12/tfeature/fr0512101t.html 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. [ [http://www.internationalliving.com/italy/italy_fact_file.html 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. [ [http://www.eucis.net/goodpractice.asp?ID=GPEX-144-EN 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/101392.stm Poland to raise school-leaving age to 18] BBC News, 28 May 1998]

pain

In Spain, compulsory education is enforced from the age of 6, with their school leaving age set at 16. [ [http://www.right-to-education.org/content/age/spain.html Spain] RightToEducation.org, 12 November 2001]

England and Wales

The school leaving age in the UK, particularly in England and Wales, has been raised numerous times over the past few centuries. The first act to introduce and enforce compulsory attendance was the Elementary Education Act 1870, with school boards setup to ensure children attended school, although exemptions were made for illness and travelling distance. Prior to this act, very few schools existed, with the ones that did exist being ran by the Church. [ [http://www.genuki.org.uk:8080/big/eng/LIN/schools.html Schools Research] GEN UKI, 3 June 2007] Since then, the age has been raised several times, most notably to 15 through the Education Act 1944 and to 16 in 1972, along with the addition of ROSLA Buildings and Middle schools. Some 16 year olds in England and Wales are of Compulsory age students must remain in school until the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16 (usually the end of Year 11).

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 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6254833.stm School leaving age set to be 18] BBC News, 12 January 2007] , with the DfES stating "we are letting young people down if we allow them to leave education and training without skills at the age of 16 (compulsory until end of Year 11 GCSEs)." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6740701.stm Staying on 'must not be forced'] BBC News, 11 June 2007] Attempts at raising the participation age to 18 were first proposed to come into effect with the Education Act 1918. 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. [ [http://education.independent.co.uk/news/article2383878.ece Under-18s who leave school to be fined] The Independent, 23 March 2007] There is a probability that the participation age in education or training will rise to 18 in England but remain at 16 in Scotland and 16 in Wales according to a Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7080699.stm School leaving age plans unveiled] BBC News, 06 November 2007]

References