THE school-leaving age must urgently be raised to 16. Deputy Geoff Mahy, former head teacher at St Martin’s School, is worried that nearly one in five young people leaves school without qualifications.
He is concerned that the Education Department’s intention to raise the leaving age from 2008 will be too late.
‘I feel this is a serious issue which is affecting the whole community because unemployed 15- and 16-year-olds, if not properly channelled, could easily fall into causing problems in the community,’ he said.
Deputy Mahy was also worried about a 50% increase in unemployment in the past 12 months. Some of the 146 people out of work are expected to be teenagers.
‘What we don’t want to happen is for local youngsters without qualifications to find themselves unemployed and firms bringing in skilled labourers from outside,’ he said.
The 2004 Sustainable Guernsey Report - debated by the States last week - indicates that Guernsey still has a much higher proportion of pupils leaving school without formal qualifications than the UK, and this is attributed partly to the lower school-leaving age.
Last year, 18% of pupils left with no qualifications, although some may well have gone on to the States Apprenticeship Scheme.
Just 5% of UK school-leavers left without an exam pass, although Guernsey schools performed better at the top end of exam success.
Deputy Mahy said the figures should be ringing alarm bells.
‘I think it’s partly to do with the school-leaving age being 15 and partly due to some parents not realising that full employment still needs qualifications.
‘Years ago you could leave school and find work quite easily without qualifications. These days, whatever job you are going into, they want someone who can read and use a computer and disseminate information.’
He believes, however, that there is a third main factor behind the high figures.
The long-serving head, who retired earlier this year to stand for the States, said that the emphasis on vocational education for some students needed to be improved.
‘We are realising that the National Curriculum cannot be all things to all pupils and we need to increase the emphasis on vocational education from an early age so that pupils who are not academically orientated but who have other skills can develop these to find employment.’
The States educational development plan is aimed at responding to changing needs in education.
Mr Mahy said progress was desperately needed in this area.
Education deputy minister Wendy Morgan said that everything was being done to raise the school-leaving age by 2008, following a States decision three years ago at the same time it was decided not to scrap the 11-plus.
‘Education has been very conscious of this situation for some while and has been working towards this for a very long time to make sure everybody can leave school with an appropriate qualification to suit their ability and potential future careers,’ said Deputy Morgan.
But raising the leaving age would mean many more people at school, and larger schools at Les Nicolles and Les Beaucamps would be required to cope.
‘We are providing a very very good curriculum for those staying on. We are providing links with the colleges and schools so they can do some very constructive vocationally orientated courses and they will have proper training for future careers.’
Article posted on 5th August, 2004 - 12.00am
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