School leaving age set to rise to 18

The British government is soon to pass 1)___________ that would raise the school leaving age to 18. The new plans will come into 2) ______ by 2013. Pupils will have the choice of staying in formal classroom 3) ________ that covers academic lessons, or of receiving vocational training. It is the first major 4) ________ of the 5) __________ education age limit since 1972, when it went up to the present 16 years old. The government hopes the additional two years of 6) _________ or training will bolster the quality of young Britons and 7) _____ more British youth have qualifications or workplace skills. If successful, Britain may be able to boast the best educated and most highly trained school leavers in the world, which is bound to have positive 8) ________ effects for industry and the economy. It should also bring down levels of crime.		revision knock-on education effect ensure schooling compulsory legislation
Britain’s Minister for Education Alan Johnson told The Times newspaper that it was " 9) _________ that a youngster of 16 is not getting any training". He lamented on his mistakes of the past, saying: "I regret not staying on in education... when I left school there were loads of jobs you could walk into without 10) ______________. That's not going to be the case in the future." The leader of Britain’s teaching 11) _____ Steve Sinnott concurred. He described the upcoming legislation as 12) "__________". He warned: "We cannot afford to neglect those young people who currently leave school at 16 13) __________ for the rigors and 14) ________ of life in the 21st Century." Toby Ashford, a 16-year-old student from London wasn’t as 15) ____________. He complained that: “It is another example of politicians trying to be 16) ___________ with young people.”		qualifications Big Brother demands inevitable enthusiastic unprepared repellent union

Task 18. Questions. Look back at the article and write down 5 questions you would like to ask your partner about the text.

e.g. When will the new plans come into force according to the article?

Task 19. Test each other. Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

· pass · formal · bolster · boast · bound to · crime

· repellent · lamented · loads · inevitable · rigors · Big Brother

Task 20. Have a discussion using the following questions:

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a. Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b. Did anything in the article surprise you?

c. What advice would you give to Britain’s problem 15 year olds?

d. Do you think it’s a good idea to raise Britain’s school leaving age to 18?

e. Should the new legislation have been introduced sooner?

f. As a student what do you think of this issue?

g. Do you think British school leavers, or those from your country, are among the best educated in the world?

h. What age can you leave school in your country?

i. In today’s world should young people study more languages?

j. What things would you do differently if you were sixteen again?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a. Did you like reading this article?

b. What do you think about what you read?

c. What is your image of the British education system?

d. How does the education system differ between Britain and your country?

e. What mistakes have you made in your life that you regret?

f. Should every student in Britain be required to pass a leaving certificate?

g. Should people be able to stay at school for as long as they want?

h. Do you think the new legislation will make weaker pupils study harder?

i. Does school in your country prepare young people for the rigors and demands of 21^st-Century life?

j. Did you like this discussion?

Task 21. Role play

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Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1710

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