A basic education is a must. Everybody should be able to read, write and complete basic arithmetic. In this day and age basic computer skills are another must. You need to be able to fill in a job application, google information, work out the correct amount of change to give someone and read the newspaper.
Some people are academically orientated. They should absolutely be encouraged to further their education.
Some people are better with practical tasks. Apprenticeships & Traineeships allow them to combine their practical skills with a theoretical education.
Some people just suck at school. Once they have the basics, encouraging them to find something they are good at and a job in a related field is of more benefit then pushing them further into an academic environment.
Year 12 is the new Year 10. A junior certificate no longer cuts it with a lot of employers but the good news is that schools have implemented a whole bunch of ‘VET’ subjects to cater for students that need a more ‘hands on’ approach.
Don’t be too worried if you (or your child) is a ‘late bloomer’. Plenty of over achieving high school students have found themselves stripping by their 30’s. (Trust me, it happens more than you think) and plenty of ‘troublemakers’ have gone on to have successful careers in their 30’s and 40’s.
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