When 99% isn’t enough
FE, In The News Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
The LSC response to the proposals to make education up to the age of 18 in the UK compulsory provided interesting reading.
Strangely, it supports the implementation of compulsion but states at the same time that currently 99 out of 100 16 – 18 year olds are in some form of education, training or employment. Why bother making it compulsory, then? Surely if that 1% feel that the 3 options above are not worth it then no legal enforcement is going to make any difference. Indeed in the same response, the LSC calls for the Government to avoid criminalising the most recalcitrant – but isn’t supporting compulsory education going to do exactly that?
Until we engage with learners, especially those in their teens and above, and put them in control of their own destinies, we’ll never reach the magic 100%.