Research Shows Draw of Higher Education and Jobs for Dropouts

There has been much consternation in the British Parliament and educational circles on the issue of extended compulsory education to 18 from its current level of 16 years old. A report by the Learning and Skills Council, which is tasked with educational services for students 16 years and older, seems to add some fuel to the fire. The Council’s recent release of information on 16 year old students who drop out of education shows that many of these students come back within five years to gain further education. This report is the opening salvo in a new debate on compulsory education, with Education Secretary Alan Johnson preparing a response soon.

The Council report indicates that of 330,000 students aged 16 years old, 40,000 will drop out and return to school or training sessions within a year of dropping out. The report also indicates that nearly 200,000 students come back within five years of leaving school, which seems to indicate recognition of the need for education in the workplace. The report, in essence, says that two-thirds of those dropping out of school after compulsory education will be back by the time they are 21.

The report comes as MPs and other educational leaders are debating the passage of a compulsory education bill pushing the mandatory age to 18. Ministers are receiving pressure not only from the Learning and Skills Council to avoid such a rash move but also from academic circles. Professor Alan Smithers of the University of Buckingham has come out against the extension of compulsory education. While Smithers has recognised the motives behind Parliament’s efforts, namely that they want students better prepared for life after school, he feels that such a push would be an overreach by the national government.

Smithers’ arguments are similar to others in the camp of keeping compulsory education to the current 16 year old age limit. The Learning and Skills Council report is one more piece of evidence that students eventually recognise the need for further education, whether it is immediately after or long after their compulsory education has been completed. As well, an extension of the age barrier may create a backlash by students who are already showing the signs of disinterest by the age of 16. Indeed, there is merit to the argument that the two additional years may only fuel apathy for further education. However, this debate will continue on for months as both sides provide conflicting evidence.