Teacher Ursula Mackel thinks the minister’s idea is “good in theory” but “a lot of the detail needs to be looked into”.
“It is a really good idea because early school leaving is linked to social exclusion and poverty and unemployment, but I think the bigger question needs to be asked as to why children want to leave school at 16,” Ms Machel said.
“I feel very strongly that there are a big cohort of children who are being failed,” she added.
Academic qualifications aren’t “suitable for a lot of children and they’re failing and they become disaffected and they leave.”
“Then perhaps they go into an apprenticeship, which is wonderful and it’s what they want to do but the funding isn’t there for the long-time placement and those children end up leaving the apprenticeship”, she said.
