KEY POINTS:
The number of teenagers leaving school at 15 has rocketed by 41 per cent since 1999, with many ending up unemployed.
The Ministry of Education is cracking down on the under-16 school-leavers after admitting too many did not make it into work or other training.
Figures released yesterday by National Party education spokeswoman Katherine Rich showed the number of secondary students allowed to leave school before they turned 16 had increased by 41 per cent since 1999. Exemptions were granted to 2802 students in 1999 and 3957 last year.
"Leaving school early is linked to poor outcomes later in life," she said. "Sure, there are some successful exceptions to the rule, but most students leaving this early will have limited opportunities."
The rise outstripped population growth, said the Post Primary Teachers Association. The low unemployment rate meant 15-year-olds could get jobs that seemed to offer good money but few of them had long-term prospects.
Secretary for Education Karen Sewell yesterday said most of the students enrolled to study at another training provider.
"[But] experience is showing that many of the young people, although often disillusioned with school, are not making successful transitions to work or other training."
Ms Sewell said the number of under-16s leaving school was too high.
She said the Education Act set criteria for early leaving exemptions - including being 15 and having a parent make the application - but the ministry was examining how it could reduce the number. In the past five years an average of 95 per cent of applications were granted.
Ms Sewell said the number of early leavers dropped between 2005 and last year but the figure was still too high.
Among the ministry's initiatives were more education for parents and exploring the support provided to schools.
Secondary Principals' Association president Peter Gall said exemptions were sometimes used by schools that wanted to exclude students but could not find another school for them to attend.
Mr Gall said there was a problem with students who left school early to go to another course and then dropped out.
"They only last a couple of months on the course and then they're on the loose again."
UNDER 16s QUITTING SCHOOL
1999: 2802 students
2006: 3957 students
*Source: Ministry of Education
