Support for raising school-leaving age

6/7/03
The State Labor Party has come in behind Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter's push to raise Western Australia's school-leaving age from 15 to 17 years.
Mr Carpenter, a long-time advocate of increasing the school-leaving age, said the official endorsement from the 2003 Australian Labor Party State Conference in Perth yesterday was a big step in the right direction.
The Minister said the support reflected the Gallop Government's commitment to delivering quality education and training to equip our young people for the future.
"It is well known that young people who leave their teenage years with qualifications, or who are still in the learning environment, have a greater capacity to find sustainable employment and succeed in later life," he said.
"However, we currently have too many young people leaving school early, limiting their long-term career prospects in the process."
Mr Carpenter said he was well aware that raising the school-leaving age would require major changes to the education and training system.
"We need to provide our young people with appropriate knowledge and skills to create socially and economically viable citizens in our society," he said.
"To do this, we need to provide them with an education and training system that is flexible and relevant to their needs.
"Ideally, I would like to see students with the opportunity to combine vocational and academic studies until they are 17, to raise their long-term career prospects.
"For example, students could spend two days a week at school, two days a week at TAFE and one day a week in the workforce.
"To do this effectively, we need to work in partnership with young people, parents, teachers, higher education and training providers, commerce, industry and the broader community."
Mr Carpenter said he would now look towards engaging other political parties and the wider community in debate on the issue.
Minister's office: 9213 6800