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The subject of wayward, directionless youth looks set to become a focus for both Labour and National this election with Prime Minister Helen Clark on Wednesday addressing similar issues to National leader John Key the day before.
Clark's first major speech of the year revealed that Labour plans to raise the age young people can quit their education, from 16 to 18.
The change will mean if under 18s are not in school, they will
need to be in other approved education courses.
The political veteran met with the young apprentices, using a photo
opportunity at a yacht building company not to launch a boat but to
launch a new goal "for all young people to be in school or some
other form of education or training or structured learning until
they reach the age of 18."
A 17-year-old could still leave school to get a job cleaning
cars but there's a catch.
"It does mean that they would need to continue to be attached to
the education system in some way," says Clark.
Key says that means 16 and 17-year-olds will not be able to work.
"Helen Clark is telling young New Zealanders who are 16 and 17 that they won't be able to go and work and if they do go and work they will have to be in training at the same time," Key says.
It's a big change, affecting nearly 30,000 16 and 17-year-olds,
and keeping them in education or training until they are 18 will
cost $170 million.
National doesn't believe that is money well spent.
"Thirty one thousand young New Zealanders are truant from school
every week. It's not working for them when the school leaving age
is 16," says Key.
Youth are becoming something of a battleground this election and
Clark dished it up to Key on Wednesday. She says she thinks it's a
bit rich for him to focus on youth crime when former cost cutting
National governments are to blame.
"Today's young violent criminals are the children of the Mother of
all Budgets of 1991," Clark says.
But Key hit back.
"If Helen Clark's only solution after nine years of being in office is to start blaming the 1991 Budget, that more than anything proves it's time for a new National government," he says.
Clark's case
Clark says almost 30% of New Zealand students have left school before their 17th birthday, and 40% leave with less than an NCEA Level Two qualification.
"While this is an improvement on past levels of participation and achievement, it is well below what is required for young people to have a secure future and contribute to our country's development, " says Clark.
The Prime Minister also announced that the Youth Apprenticeship programme being piloted this year will be rolled out to all secondary schools by the end of 2011.
But Clark points out that New Zealand schools and the formal education system cannot keep youth in education alone.
"More partnerships will be needed with employers, tertiary educators, private training providers and communities to ensure that a range of options to meet student needs is available," she says.
The government also announced the formation of a tripartite body with Business NZ and the Council of Trade Unions to drive upskilling of the existing workforce.
"It is of concern that around half our current workforce does not have the education and skills to function fully in a knowledge economy. The new tripartite forum will see government work with its partners to lift skills levels," Clark says.
On Tuesday, Key outlined his solutions to stop youth crime, including bootcamp for delinquents, child raising lessons for bad parents and making 12 year-olds face court.
So the race is on, and while polls have measured it for some time this was still a surprising admission: "Yes we start from behind but we also start with a reputation for tackling the hard issues and for getting results," says Clark.
Her audience applauded and now Clark will have both eyes firmly fixed on the next opinion polls.
And while the government is focused on capturing the political spotlight, National MPs have headed off en masse for a quiet two day retreat in Rotorua.
What do you think about Helen Clark and John Key's policies? Have your say on our message board below.
What do you think about Helen Clark and John Key's policies? Have your say on our message board below.
