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Students in professional training should be given the same Government funding as those in education to ensure "equal opportunities" for all, according to the former Education Minister.
Deputy Inna Gardiner is calling on the Government to provide equal funding for all 16 to 18-year-olds, regardless of whether they are in education or undertaking professional training.
She said this will improve young people's career prospects and skills no matter what path they take.
The proposition aims to alleviate financial pressures on students pursuing vocational or trade careers while contributing to the future economy.
Currently, 16 to 18-year-old students in education receive up to five times more funding that those in professional training.
Pictured: Deputy Inna Gardiner has called on the Government to provide equal funding for all 16 to 18-year-olds in education or professional training.
In a statement, the former Education Minister described this policy as an "investment in the future".
"Young people can develop a greater range of skills and the likelihood of unemployment is significantly reduced by staying in education longer," she added.
In the report accompanying her proposition, Deputy Gardiner said: "This proposition asks the Assembly the simple question – should we be providing equal opportunities for skills and education for all young people?"
In the report, the former Education Minister highlighted the current disparity in funding between students pursuing academic studies and those in vocational training.
Students at Hautlieu School receive £7,000-£8,000 annually from the Government, while those in vocational apprenticeships at Highlands College receive only £1,600 per year.
Pictured: Students at Hautlieu School receive £7,000-£8,000 annually from the Government, while those in vocational apprenticeships at Highlands College receive only £1,600 per year.
Deputy Gardiner also highlighted how Jersey's legislation still assumes 16 as the age when young people can leave education or training, while in the UK and most of Europe, this age has been raised to 18.
"Jersey is an outlier," she said.
Deputy Gardiner's proposal calls on Education Minister Deputy Rob Ward to ensure fully-funded education or training for this age group by September 2025.
It requests the inclusion of any necessary long-term funding in the 2026-2029 Government Plan.
She also called for a review of education legislation and policy to increase the length of time young people are in education or training.
Pictured: The proposition will be debated in the States Assembly at the end of June.
She added that the 2019 Scrutiny Review and 2022 Actionable Agenda both recommended raising the required age for all young people to be in full-time education or or training, as well as equalising funding both across academic and vocational routes.
Deputy Gardiner concluded: "We are an affluent and prosperous island – there is no reason we should rank lower than other nations in supporting 16-18 education.
"This is our opportunity to make that investment in Jersey's future workforce and prosperity."
A local think-tank has also recently called on the Government to support social mobility and improve educational outcomes, especially for disadvantaged children and those on vocational pathways.
The Policy Centre's Social Mobility Report, published in March, pointed out inequalities in Jersey's education system.
It said there was currently a "structural barrier" in education to those from disadvantaged backgrounds due to the high proportion of students attending fee-paying schools and the transfer of pupils at ages 14 and 16 to Hautlieu.
In terms of employment, the report said that unpaid internships also disadvantage young people from low-income backgrounds.
It said: "70% of internships are unpaid – locking out young people who cannot afford to work for free."
Pictured: The Policy Centre Jersey also called on the Government to improve educational outcomes for those on vocational pathways.
In response to the Social Mobility Report, Education Minister Rob Ward said: “I recognise the issues raised in the report.
"I added lifelong learning to the remit in recognition of the role education has in social mobility.
"The department is also addressing the range of need in schools with the new funding formulae which targets funding areas of most need.
"This will give the educational opportunities for all in our society and support social mobility.”
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