The Opposition is “yet to be convinced” that raising the compulsory school leaving age to 18 would lead to higher educational achievement, PN education spokesman Joe Cassar said yesterday.
He was reacting to comments by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo who last week floated the idea of eventually increasing the leaving age from 16.
“In the coming years, the country will have to discuss whether or not to raise the school leaving age,” he said, adding that the change would have to be accompanied by a “serious evaluation” of the national school system.
His comments followed the recent publication of EU statistics which placed the Maltese among those who spent the least time in school. This, the minister had noted, was compounded by “worrying” levels of truancy.
Although the PN had an open mind on the matter, Dr Cassar expressed reservations and questioned whether this would help boost students’ academic achievements.
“We are yet to be convinced that forcing youngsters to stay on at school until the age of 18, when these are already free and even paid to do so, would lead to improvements,” he said.
Dr Cassar also raised concerns that the move could simply lead to an “artificial reduction in the rate of youth employment”.
Economists have welcomed the proposal, saying it would help bolster economic growth.
“The proposal to raise compulsory schooling from 16 to 18 is a good supply side policy, which would ultimately increase the country’s output,” economist Michael Bray told Times of Malta.
Dr Cassar was reluctant to take a final stand on the matter and said the PN would be willing to discuss the issue after the government explained the whole plan and accompanying studies.
Meanwhile, the suggestion was given the thumbs up by University Rector Juanito Camilleri, who said the two extra years would have to include solutions for students who did not obtain minimum requirements. “If the extra compulsory years mean that more people obtain the matriculation certificate, this could be a very positive move,” he said, adding that other avenues to help hone students’ skills would also have to be introduced.
This would ultimately increase the country’s output
Mcast principal and CEO Stephen Cachia also weighed in, praising the minister for his courage in starting a debate on the issue.
Such a change, he said, clearly needed a lot of discussion among all stakeholders and was not something that could be introduced overnight.