SUNDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1979: EMBARGO 5: 00 pm
ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORATE OF WANNON ON BEHALF OF THE PRIME
MINISTER BY THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SENATOR CARRICK
The Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, asked me to talk to,.
you about a very important matter the education and
training of our young people for transition from school
work; and about our plans to help those who, through lack ofbasic
skills, are at risk in obtaining employment.
Last Thursday I reported to Parliament on the Government's
reaction to the Williams Committee report. I also described
the details of a comprehensive plan to assist the transition
from school to work of all those with particular needs.
These two initiatives are of great and enduring importance
and interest to all Australians.
The Williams Committee report is the most detailed and
comprehensive examination ever undertaken in this country.
It focusses strongly upon quality. It seeks to upgrade the
quality of delivery of education in schools, colleges and
universities and the need to improve basic skills.
The quantity of education has increased enormously. Many
people question whether that increase in quantity has been
accompanied by a parallel growth in quality and relevance.
The Williams report emphasises sadly that one quarter of
14 year olds were found by sample testing to be incapable
i of independent learning or reading for recreation or / 2
information. About 20 per cent of 10 year olds and 15 per cent
of 14 year olds needed remedial instruction in number work.
Some one half of all 14 year olds could not write a
satisfactory letter for employment in terms of basic criteria.
Clearly this is not good enough. The government, in
co-operation with the States, will work towards significant
improvements in this vital field.
The Williams report contains 116 recommendations, touching
right at the heart of qualitative improvements in the whole
field of education. The government has adopted almost all
recommendations. Each year about 250,000 young people leave school. Of them
60,000 go into full-time tertiary education. A further
140,000 go into full-time employment, including 40,000
apprentices. The remaining 50,000 are ' at risk'.. They are our immediate
and vital, concern. Evidence shows that very many lack the
skills necessary for employment. Without appropriate
assistance, they will be chronically unemployed.
The Commonwealth government is convinced that much can be
done to assist these young people towards personal fulfilment
and employment. / 3
Y 3.
We have reached agreement with the States upon a wide range
of initiatives.
The schools will be asked and assisted to identify students
at risk at the earliest possible stage. The intention is
to provide individual counselling, vocational testing,
pastoral care and appropriate courses, including technical
courses. Our aim will be to prove to these young people
that we, the community, are genuinely concerned about them,
that they have potential skills and that school and TAFE
can be meaningful and rewarding to them.
We will seek to reduce the number of unduly early schoolleavers
the 15 year olds who face a 28 per cent chance of
unemployment. We will offer work experience and link courses. We will
extend the range of technical college courses, including
pre-employment, pre-apprenticeship and E. P. U. Y.
Our hope is that the assistance and training will attract
the great majority of-.-juvenile unemployed.
We will not vary the present conditions of unemployment
benefits. / 4
itø
4.
This is not an artificial scheme to juggle with these
figures and statistics of juvenile unemployment. It is
a genuine attempt to provide all young people with
employable skills and with a sense of adequacy and
achievement. The personal factors are at least as
important as the vocational.
These programmes should be eagerly welcomed by all
Australians.