Raise The School Leaving Age?

[WillowTheWhisp]

Only if you qualify - parents have to be earning less than the stipulated amount.

[Nickelson]

yes thats correct i forgot to add that.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Yet, if my 16 year old child is in further education I still get Child Benefit but if they leave school but can't claim any dole I lose my CB.

[Nickelson]

yes im sure that is the way as whats to stop a child leaving school and then starting life on the dole

[WillowTheWhisp]

Whats to stop them doing just that 2 years later?

[Nickelson]

nothing but seen as most dole dossiers are poor the need money so get a working life drilled into them or at least that is what the goverment think

[MargaretR]

The problem will be the reduction of jobs available to uneducated persons- there wont be jobs for them to do (unless they go seasonal cockle picking or gathering cabbages)

[WillowTheWhisp]

It's the attitude of the kids that needs to change and that won't happen by forcing them to stay on at school against their will. They could just muck about for 2 years and be no better qualified at the end of it.

[SamF]

Originally Posted by flashytart

well i think its an excellent idea, it would save the government millions in job seekers benefits and those millions could be put to good use by opening up new sixth forms

EMA ranging from £0-£30 a week, not saving money IMO, bear into mind the additional teaching and resources cost.

(EMA being the most flawed system created by man :-

If your parents earn less than £30,000 a year, you get money for attending college. Go to university and you'll get money for that to.

A friend of mine(17) doesn't have a job, predicted BCCC for A levels, lives 3 blocks away from me, receives £30 a week, plus bonuses for attending college.

When he goes to university, grants and bursaries will cover tuition fees, therefore he does not have to worry about saving for university, as he will only have to pay for living expenses.

You may argue that EMA allows struggling families to keep going whilst having a 16-18 year old still in education, it simply doesn't. 99.9% of EMA money is spent in pubs on thursdays, fridays and saturdays, they don't need it.

My parents earn £50,000 a year. Will not be able to support me financially at university. I get nothing for attending college. I will get nothing for attending university.

I work weekends earning £198 per month. £100 of that is put into savings. This gives me around £15 per week, half that of somebody who's parents don't work/work part time. He gets twice as much money, and hasn't done a days work in his life.

When I go to university, I will have to take out a crippling student loan, £3K tuition fee x3 + living expenses, coming out with £15K-25K debt.

I'll have around £2000 in savings after 2 years work, not even the first year's tuition.

I am predicted AAAA at A level, if I do manage to achieve this, I'll get £1000 a year scholarship, if my parents didn't earn over £30,000, I'd get £5,000 a year scholarship.

The system is so damn flawed that a millionaire's child can claim £30 a week, as EMA is income based, and if your a millionaire, you don't have income(I know some do, but you understand the point).

My point is that the EMA system actively discourages working - if you can't be bothered earning your education, and your parents can't be bothered getting a job, they'll pay it for you. If you work, your parents work, you can be left to yourself.

I know this is incredibly off topic, and at best a ramble, I've been meaning to say something for a while and this has sparked me off. )

[blazey]

Originally Posted by Jae Swift

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | School leaving age may be raised

Now I leave my opinion on it, hopefully nobody will cry about my opinion on this like with my other topic..

I think the raising of the school leaving age would be a TERRIBLE move, the schools are already filled with too many children who shouldn't be there being forced to attend. It should be a choice not an obligation. The Sixth form classes work so much better for the lack of discipline issues as the school is not forced to teach you there and the class sizes are smaller, I firmly believe that forcing students to attend A-levels would drastically reduce exam results and like a few other people are probably going to say.. Do no more than just waste another two years of some peoples lives.

I think your misunderstanding the aim of the proposal. A young person will have to stay in some orm of education til the age of 18, not necessarily school. If after 16 a person chooses to work, their employer must ensure that the young person is gaining some for of written qualification whilst working there, til the age ofer 18. The ai is to ensure that all persons under 18 gain a form of academic or vocational qualification higher than the current standard and reduce the unemployment figures, as if u have written qualifications have (arguably) more chances of getting a job.

I think it's a brilliant idea, but I guess it depends on the perspective of the young person, as I have voluntarily done what the proposal says, so I'm bound to think its an excellent idea, where as if you hated school (and I wasnt the biggest fan) then I guess this proposal could be seen in a negative way.

[BERNADETTE]

You raise some very relevant points Samf it does seeem to be a very flawed. How on earth do you cope with the thought of all that debt just to get you through uni? It is absolutely terrible IMO.

[Bonnyboy]

Originally Posted by SamF

My point is that the EMA system actively discourages working - if you can't be bothered earning your education, and your parents can't be bothered getting a job, they'll pay it for you. If you work, your parents work, you can be left to yourself.

I know this is incredibly off topic, and at best a ramble, I've been meaning to say something for a while and this has sparked me off. )

I aknowledge what you are saying, just would like to highlight that some parents cannot work, it's not always a case of not being bothered.

[blazey]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

You raise some very relevant points Samf it does seeem to be a very flawed. How on earth do you cope with the thought of all that debt just to get you through uni? It is absolutely terrible IMO.

I am currently in debt after 1 month and having to apply for hardship funds, and I dont even go out socialising other than the gospel choir (which cost a one off payment of £2) and I know alot of people in the same boat, and it is very stressful. Text books are ridiculously expensive and most book shops offer no discount for students. Waterstones offered 10% for a month, but now thats over the cost is sky high.

[blazey]

I have tried to find a job aswell for a few hours a day as a cleaner, but so far I have been unsuccessful, and its hard to find reasonable jobs for just a few hours, unless I am to settle for a newspaper round for £10 a week or whatever the going rate is now

[BERNADETTE]

Yes I can see it isn't easy getting yourself through uni, hope it is all worth it in the end.