PM Transcripts

F78/ 252
FOR PRESS 5 DECEMBER 1978
PRIME MINISTER PROPOSES JOINT COMMONWEALTH/ STATES
ACTION TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK
The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has written to the Premiers
proposing joint Conmnonwealth/ States action in education to help
young people in the transition from school to work.
Mr Fraser announced today he had written to the Premiers to
tell them that the Commonwealth Minister for Education,
Senator Carrick, would raise the issue at the special meeting
of the Australian Education Council .( AEC) in Melbourne on
December 8 and 9.
Mr Fraser said he believed all Governments should look to see what
more can be done to alleviate youth unemployment.
Many young people still left school without being adequately
prepared for the world of work, Mr Fraser said.
Longer-term 6hanges to the process of schooling could involve
modification of secondary education and modification of primary
courses to help students achieve greater success at secondary level.
As an example of possible measures, the Prime Minister suggested
alternative courses. at secon'dary level to meet the needs of
students who would leave school early for various reasons.
Similar courses could be established for young people 16 to 18
years old who had already left school. This would be an
experimental development of courses outside the school systems,
possibly through the use of the technical and further education
( TAPE) systems.
Another possibility could be the establishment of intensive
courses during the summer holidays for school-leavers who were
unable to secure employment. These courses could concentrate on
labour market information, careers guidance and vocational
counselling. There was also the need to ensure that more effective cooperation and
coordination was achieved between secondary schools and the TAFE
systems, for instance, through the systematic development of
linked courses.