New Study Shows One in Eight Aussies Will Never Get a Year 12 Qualification

The fiscal and social costs of this finding are substantial.

A new report by the Mitchell Institute found one in eight Australians will never attain their Year 12 qualification. It further suggests that some of these people will be among the one in eight Australians who will be "disengaged from the workforce for most of their lives."

These disengaged people collectively cost taxpayers $471 million a year, which equates to $18.8 billion over a lifetime. The social costs are even greater, at $1.2 billion each year and a colossal $50.5 billion over a lifetime.

About 40 per cent of students in remote and rural regions of Australia do not complete Year 12 and the same goes for students from the lowest socio-economic groups. The report explains that once a student leaves school before gaining a Year 12 qualification, they are less likely to be engaged in future study or full-time work.

Students may leave school early for a number of reasons including health problems (including mental health), bullying and also family disruptions. 

But CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), Jan Owen, has said that the report actually shows “the failings of an education system with a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

She stresses that seven in ten jobs will be disrupted by technological advancements like automation and digitisation, meaning that there are fewer entry-level positions and full-time jobs for young people.

FYA's research has shown that it takes the average student 4.7 years to find full-time employment after leaving full-time education.

It’s all pretty dire.

Her solution is to start thinking about the way we teach and changing the model to reflect new challenges in the job market.

“Our goal should not be to ensure that young people are simply finishing school,” Owen said. “[The goal should be] to make certain that every student has built a ‘portfolio’ of skills and capabilities with which to thrive in the new economy.”

Amen.

Photo: Fox