Education Matters Online
Feature

Volume 3, Issue 2: December 14, 2004

What the OSSTF says:

The student success plan: Every student will stay in school until age 18 or high school graduation

"All research shows a direct relation to increased life time earnings and an increased level of education. Current law in Ontario allows students to opt out of formal education at age 16. This law, that has been in place since the early 1950's, was instituted for an economy that was based in agriculture and product manufacturing. Students could leave school with a basic education and move into a job that provided a secure future.

The current and long term economic indicators point to a Canadian economy that will require a highly educated workforce. OSSTF believes that as a bare minimum, students should not be allowed to opt out of education before achieving high school graduation. In order to accomplish this goal, the school leaving age should be raised to age 18.

Accompanying this increased school leaving age is the need to develop a series of school to work programs that will meet the needs of all students. High school programs must prepare students to succeed in college or university programs. Programs must also be developed that will prepare students for direct entry into the workforce from high school. Programs must also be in place to provide for alternative learning styles of some students who for whatever reason require a learning environment significantly different than the regular classroom."

What the Liberal Party Platform “Excellence for All” said:

We will make learning mandatory to age 18.

"In a knowledge-based economy, it no longer makes sense for young people to be allowed to stop learning at the age of 16. Many young people leaving school early may be more engaged and better learners in other settings – whether it is in a training program, an apprenticeship or some other form of on-the-job learning.

We will require that all young people continue their education, either in school or in an approved out-of-school training experience, until they reach 18 years or until they graduate.

We will expand programs for co-op placement and apprenticeships. We will create a stronger, more integrated apprenticeship system that is more accessible to those entering the skilled trades and to prospective employers. And we will promote on-the-job learning in high-demand areas where there are chronic skill shortages."

What the Liberal Government has done about it (sort of) so far:

So far, most of the initiatives have been focussed on areas other than secondary school and adult ed provided by school boards. Most of the initiatives have been focussed on colleges and employer incentives to hire apprentices.

Time will tell whether the expected legislation will help or hurt students in secondary schools or adult ed programs and how that, in turn, will impact on secondary teachers and adult continuing education teachers or programs.

Stay tuned......

Let us not take thought for our separate interests, but let us help one another.
(OSSTF Motto)

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