Should the dropout age for students in any education system be raised above its current number? In the US, this often varies between the states, from 15 to 18 years old, given parental consent. In England, the school leaving age is 16. In Angola this is 12, in Belgium 18, and in New Zealand 16.
What do you believe the school leaving age should be? If higher or lower than it currently is, why?
The amount of time a child should be in school has been the center of educational debates for tens, if not hundreds of years. At what age is a child equipped to leave the protection of an educational establishment and enter the so-called real world? Perhaps more importantly, after how many years of schooling is a child equipped to join the workforce and have a positive impact on the community? For most Western countries, the 'drop out' age is 16, after around 11 years of formal schooling. In Australia, we can leave school at the end of year 10, two years before graduation.
Those who do drop out face an increasingly narrow range of options. Most jobs require at least a high school diploma, if not a bachelor's degree. What skills does a 16 year old have to offer a potential employer? According to the Mitchell Institute, those who do not complete high school have significantly lower income and a higher chance of unemployment than those who do. Especially in recent times with the rapid development of technology and skill based employment, school leavers are falling behind.
It is not just the skills and education that school leavers lose, it is also the protection and support of school itself. Many 16 year olds are not ready to enter the workforce. Many are not ready for the responsibility that comes with full time employment. Kids are not allowed to vote at 16; so why should they be allowed to make the ultimately more important decision of leaving school?
I believe that every child should complete their schooling. It has become a necessity to obtain employment, and to grow and develop as an individual.