A leading education academic at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has called for adjustments in the practice of teaching in NSW in order to keep more young people at school longer.

 

“There needs to be a systematic change in the outlook of the teaching practice that focuses on the reasons why young people leave school early and how these can be used to boost retention,” said Head of the CSU School of Education Associate Professor Roslin Brennan Kemmis.

 

The comments follow the NSW Government’s recent announcement that from 2010 NSW students will have to sit the School Certificate at the end of Year 10. Any student aged under 17 years who then wants to leave school will have to either enrol in TAFE, undertake an apprenticeship or be working more than 25 hours a week.

 

“About 5 500 students leave school each year in NSW before the age of 16 and they are more likely to be boys, Indigenous and live in rural areas,” said Associate Professor Brennan Kemmis.

 

“There is profound disengagement amongst these early school leavers and we need to ask what do we as a profession need to do to engage this group.

 

“A blanket compulsion to stay at school is a blunt instrument and a further constraint on young people. It does not address issues facing this group such as socio economic disadvantage and intergenerational unemployment.

 

“There needs to be support for choice, flexibility and multiple pathways for students who need to be well informed about their options much earlier than the point of exit from school,” said the CSU academic.

 

Associate Professor Brennan Kemmis says flexible pathways in education and training for young people requires more enthusiastic investigation and support in NSW.

 

“The joint delivery of education by schools, TAFEs, workplaces and the university sector could offer more choice and flexibility for early school leavers.”

 

Ms Brennan Kemmis has also highlighted opportunities for federal initiatives such as trade centres in schools to engage young people in new and creative ways.

 

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Education Professor Toni Downes has welcomed the lifting of the minimum school leaving age from 15, stating that it now brings NSW in line with the rest of Australia.

 

“The change in the school leaving age is just the first step,” warned Professor Downes.

 

“We need to change schools as having reluctant disengaged adolescents and young adults in schools will benefit no one. 

 

“Flexible education and training pathways and a supportive and flexible curriculum is required as well as new ways of thinking about relationships with TAFE and part time work.

 

“We need to create a situation where all students want to stay at school and are engaged in learning and provide the necessary support and guidance for those seeking either the TAFE or work options.

 

“Through our leading Faculty of Education, Charles Sturt University waits with keen interest to see if the required policy and curriculum changes are introduced as well as additional resources needed to implement the new minimum school leaving age in 2010,” said Professor Downes.