Should there be a minimum school leaving age, or should students and their parents be free to decide when they leave school? Discuss and give your opinion on this in not less than 250 words
There is a fierce and profound debate going on between educationalists and social theorists about when one can drop schooling: where some vouch for such an arrangement, others feel continuing with schooling should be the prerogative of the pupils and their parents.
To carry on with the schooling, or not, should be the decision taken by the learners and their families since many opine that academic curriculum made available at the schools has little relevance in the professional pursuits of youngsters. They are forced to study those subjects for which they have little inclination: this might cause enchantment, among young ones, towards studies, making them abandon education altogether. The precious years wasted at school could be used to obtain knowhow about the field young individuals might like to join.
However, many commentators lambast the former opinion: they feel it is based on an imprudent assumption that if allowed to be practised will do more harm than good to the young ones. Leaving schooling midway will deprive the youngsters of an opportunity to complete their education. In the times, when right from the first professional assignment to the elevation to higher levels, requires one to have a complete formal education, those dropping out of schooling as per their wish will permanently be confined to low paying jobs, making their future prospects grim. If this trend is allowed to proliferate, the society will very soon be populated by poorly earning individuals who have little contribution to make to the economic productivity of the nation.
Overall, controversies apart, I strongly feel that there is little rationale behind allowing young learners to abandon schooling at will. Formal tuition is meant to develop multiple facets of the personality of the young ones which lays foundation for a well-informed adulthood.
