School-leaving age




























The school leaving age is the minimum age a person is legally allowed to cease attendance at an institute of compulsory secondary education. Most countries have their school leaving age set the same as their minimum full-time employment age, thus allowing smooth transition from education into employment, whilst a few have it set just below the age at which a person is allowed to be employed.


In contrast, there are numerous countries that have several years between their school leaving age and their legal minimum employment age, thus in some cases preventing any such transition for several years. Countries which have their employment age set below the school leaving age of 5 years old but (mostly developing countries), risk giving children the opportunity to leave their education early to earn money for their families.




Contents






  • 1 Leaving age by country


    • 1.1 Africa


    • 1.2 Americas


    • 1.3 Asia


    • 1.4 Europe


    • 1.5 Oceania




  • 2 School retention by country


  • 3 See also


  • 4 Notes


  • 5 External links





Leaving age by country


Some countries have different leaving or employment ages, but in certain countries like China and Japan, the average age at which people graduate is 15, depending upon part-time or full-time learning or employment. The table below states the school leaving ages in countries across the world and their respective minimum employment age, showing a comparison of how many countries have synchronised these ages. All information is taken from the Right to Education Project's table unless otherwise indicated.[1]


Legend























Color legend
Ages legend

  Both ages unsynchronised: School leaving age higher / Employment age lower

0 denotes education is not compulsory. (13) denotes part-time employment available from 13

  Both ages unsynchronised: Employment age higher / School leaving age lower

0 denotes no minimum employment age as children could be, in theory, employed from birth

  Both ages synchronised

denotes no information available

  No information / No age set / Age varies by jurisdiction

? denotes the age set is unknown




Africa






























































































































































































































































































































































#
Country

De jure
Education/
Employment gap
Year
Notes
School leaving age
Employment age


 Algeria
16
0
2011



 Angola
12 14
2
2010



 Benin
? 14

2005



 Botswana
? 15

2004



 Burkina Faso
16 15
-1
2009
.


 Burundi
12 16
4
2010



 Cameroon
14
0
2001



 Cape Verde
16 14
-2
2001



 Chad
15 ?

2007



 Comoros
14 ?

1998



 Congo
16
0
2006



 Egypt
14
0
2010



 Eritrea
13 14
1
2007



 Ethiopia
?

2005



 Gabon
16
0
2001



 Gambia
?

2000



 Ghana
15 12
-3
2005



 Guinea
16
0
2012



 Kenya
?

2006



 Libya
15
0
2002



 Madagascar
? 14

2010



 Malawi
? 14

2008



 Mozambique
? 15

2009



 Morocco
13 ?

2003



 Namibia
16 14
-2
2011



 Niger
16 14
-2
2008



 Nigeria
15 ?

2009



 Rwanda
16
0
2012



 Senegal
16 15
-1
2006



 Seychelles
15
0
2011



 Sierra Leone
15? ?

2006



 South Africa
15
0
2011
A child between the ages of 15 and 18 may only be employed if he or she has completed grade 9.[2]


 Sudan
? 14

2010
Includes South Sudan


 Tanzania
13? 14

2005



 Togo
15 14
-1
2010



 Tunisia
16
0
2008



 Uganda
?

2004



 Zambia
?

2002



 Zimbabwe
?

1995



Americas
















































































































































































































































#
Country

De jure
Education/
Employment gap
Year
Notes
School leaving age
Employment age


 Argentina
18 14
-4
2009



 Barbados
16 16?

1997



 Belize
14
0
2004



 Bolivia
16 14
-2
2009



 Brazil
17 15
-2
2010
Schooling is mandatory for children 6-16 (years 1-9 in the new Brazilian school system). After that, there is no legal obligation to stay in school. Students who want to qualify for university admission must however complete three additional years (years 10-12) of secondary school (ensino médio), thus normally leaving school at age 17 or 18, depending on one's birthday date. The minimum age for legal work is 17; at 15, one is allowed to have an apprenticeship contract.


 Canada
16 in Quebec, 17 everywhere else 14-18, varies by province and industry

2014
[3]


 Chile
18 15
-3
2005
Students finish their secondary education (Educación Media in Spanish) at age 18, and working is legal only if the underaged employee (age 17 or younger) is authorised by legal guardian or parents,


 Colombia
15 14
-1
2005



 Costa Rica
17-18 15
-20
2010



 Cuba
16
0
2010



 Dominica
16 12
-4
2004?



 Dominican Republic
18
0
2007?



 Grenada
14
0
2009



 Guyana
15
0
2003



 Haiti
? 15

2002



 Jamaica
14 12
-2
2003



 Mexico
15
0
2014



 Paraguay
14
0
2009
Since the initiation of the Education Reform in 1993, basic education is for a period of nine years to the age of 15. According to the Constitution, compulsory education ends at 12.


 Peru
16 18
2
2009
(Work is legal at 15,16 if is authorised by legal guardian or parents)


 Saint Kitts and Nevis
16
0
1997



 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
? 14?

2001



 Suriname
10? 14

2005



 Trinidad and Tobago
12
0
2004



 United States
16-19* 14-18*

2010
The school leaving age varies from state to state with most having a leaving age of 16 or 17, but a handful having a leaving age of above that number.[4] Students who complete a certain level of secondary education ("high school") may take a standardized test and be graduated from compulsory education, the General Equivalency Degree. Gifted and talented students are also generally permitted by several states to accelerate their education so as to obtain a diploma prior to attaining the leaving age. Young people may seek employment at 14 in many states but, in practice, most employers seek someone slightly older. However, it is common for those aged 14 (and even younger) to gain employment in agriculture.
*Varies by State or Territory


 Uruguay
14 15
1
2006



 Venezuela
14
0
2007



Asia






































































































































































































































































































































































#
Country

De jure
Education/
Employment gap
Year
Notes
School leaving age
Employment age


 Afghanistan
13 15
2
2010



 Armenia
? 14

2011



 Azerbaijan
? 15

2005



 Bahrain
15 14
-1
2010



 Bangladesh
10 14
4
2008



 Brunei
17 14
-3
2003
Compulsory Education in Brunei from Primary Education to Secondary Education. Tertiary Education is encouraged.


 Burma
? 13

2011
De facto none


 Cambodia
? 15

2010



 China
15 16
1
2012
Compulsory education lasts 9 years. School leaving age is calculated under the assumption that pupils will enroll in school at age 6 or graduate high school at age 18.


 Georgia
14 16
2
2007



 India
14 14?

2003
The Government is making a law of compulsory education up to 14 years. Any person who wishes to continue his education can continue to work.


 Hong Kong, China
15 16
1
2012



 Indonesia
15 13
-2
2018
The school leaving age varies among provinces with most having a leaving age of 15, but a handful having a leaving age of 18.


 Iran
16 15
-1
2003?



 Iraq
? 15

1996



 Israel
18 14
-4
2011?
The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised.


 Japan
15
0
2009
The vast majority (>90%) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age.


 Jordan
16
0
2006



 Lebanon
12 13
1
2005



 Mongolia
17 14
-3
2009



   Nepal
? 14

2004



 North Korea
16
0
2008



 South Korea
15
0
2011
The vast majority of Korean students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures as well as self-satisfaction, despite the leaving age. Government assistance is available to families.


 Kuwait
15 14
-1
2012



 Malaysia
17 14
-3
2006?
Primary school is compulsory, followed by secondary school. 17 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results for admission to the tertiary education. 14 is the minimum employment age. Under-aged people are not allowed to be employed or they risk fines by the Ministry of Human Resources.


 Maldives
? 14

2006



 Pakistan
10 14
4
2009?
Although the minimum age for leaving school is 10 years or primary, which means a 7 year education, the minimum age of employment is considered to be 14. The 14 years old can do only light work and not hazardous employment.


 Philippines
18 15
-3
2015
The implementation of the K-12 program (see Education in the Philippines) also signaled the raise of the school leaving age to 18.


 Saudi Arabia
15
0
2010?
A student may leave school after the age of 15 if permission of his/her father is given. Otherwise, the student must complete school until the age of 18. The employment age in a part-time job or during school holidays is 15.


 Singapore
16 15
-1
2010?
Primary school is compulsory, followed by secondary school. 16 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Singaporean GCE 'O' Level results for admission to polytechnics, junior colleges, Institute of Technical Education, or work. 15 is the minimum employment age. Under-aged people are not allowed to be employed or they risk fines by the Ministry of Manpower.


 Sri Lanka
16
0
2014

For further information http://www.moe.gov.lk/sinhala/images/publications/Education_First_SL/Education_First_SL.pdf




 Syria
15
0
2010



 Taiwan
18
0
2010?



 Tajikistan
16 14
-2
2009



 Thailand
15
0
2011
Students must complete secondary education up to Matthayom 3 and then have the choice of proceeding to upper secondary, vocational schools or dropping out, however due to social pressures most students finish their secondary education and proceed to Matthayom 6, matriculation or other forms of pre-university education.


 United Arab Emirates
18 21
3
2001



 Uzbekistan
18 16
-2
2012



 Vietnam
18 15
-3
2011?
Junior High schools are now compulsory, but in some mountainous regions, many children leave schools earlier to help their parents. The government is trying to reduce that happening. Children must be at least 15 to be legally employed.


 Yemen
? 14

2004



Europe






























































































































































































































































































































































































































#
Country

De jure
Education/
Employment gap
Year
Notes
School leaving age
Employment age


 Andorra
16
0
2001



 Austria
15
0
2011



 Belarus
15 14
-1
2010



 Belgium
18 15
-3
2009?
Full-time education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15. From the person's 16th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged to pursue at least part-time education so they have a choice between full-time or part-time education.


 Bosnia and Herzegovina
? 15

2011



 Bulgaria
16
0
2007



 Croatia
15
0
2003



 Cyprus
15
0
2011



 Czechia
15
0
2010



 Denmark
16 13
-3
2010



 England
16/18 13-15 (part time light work) 16+ (full time)

2015[5]
Full-time employment is illegal before the last Friday in June of Year Eleven even if the child is already 16.[6] Part-time employment may be undertaken from 14 and in certain cases, for example delivering newspapers, at 13. Rules coming into application in 2011 require all young people to continue with some kind of education or training until 18. Young people aged 16 or 17 may leave school if they enter training or an apprenticeship.





 Estonia
15
0
2002



 Finland
16 15
-1
2010
Citizens must complete comprehensive school. The age of finishing it varies depending on the age of starting school (mostly 7) and years held back. Most graduate from comprehensive school at the age of 16. Pupils who have not finished comprehensive school by the age of 17 (which is marginal) may quit school. Post-secondary (tertiary) education is voluntary.


 France
16
0
2010
The statutory minimum school leaving age is 16. There are, however, a few specific cases where young people may enter employment before the age of 16, such as employment in the parents' company, sporadic work, or young people who have left school early taking up an apprenticeship at 15, to name a few.[7]


 Germany
18 (15)
-3
2003
The statutory minimum school leaving age is essentially set at 18.[8] The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (Youth Employment Protection Act) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15.[9] However, from the person's 15th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged by state law to pursue at least part-time vocational secondary education, usually within the German dual education system. Some germans students leaving school at 17 and 6 months


 Greece
15
0
2011



 Hungary
16
0
2005



 Iceland
16
0
2010



 Ireland
16 (14)
-2
2000
The statutory minimum age is 16, except for those who have completed less than three years of secondary education, for whom it is 18.[10][11] The minimum working ages are: 14 during school holidays; 15 during term time; 16 for working up to 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day; 18 for working with no age-based restrictions.[10][12] Employees under 18 must be registered.[12] Exemptions may be specified by the Minister for Jobs; this has been done for close relatives.[12][13]


 Italy
16
0
2010



 Latvia
15
0
2005



 Liechtenstein
15
0
2005



 Lithuania
16
0
2011



 Luxembourg
18
0
1997



 Macedonia
18 15
-3
2009?
Compulsory secondary education starts year 2008 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007).


 Malta
16
0
2012
Although the compulsory education ends at 16, an increasing number of children opt to further their studies while taking up part-time employment.


 Moldova
16 15
-1
2008



 Monaco
16
0
2012



 Montenegro
15
0
2010



 Netherlands
18 13
-5
2014
Education is compulsory from the age of 5 to 18. Secondary education is divided in several levels, with vmbo students typically graduating at age 16, havo students at 17 and vwo students at 18. After obtaining a havo or vwo diploma, the student is no longer obligated to go to school regardless of their age. Except those students which have done vmbo, they must have a mbo level 2 or higher diploma before quitting school.

Also, all children between those ages, even if they're refugees or new, have to attend school.
Not attending school with-out proper reason for example; sickness or a doctors visit, is illegal and is seen as wagging which is seen as fraud and punishable by law. Until the age of 12 children cannot be punished by law, but as soon as your child or you turn 12 years of age or older, you can be held responsible for wagging.
Punishments can be done as a fine, temporary jail time or a community service job done under supervision. Fines can be up to € 3 900 00.
These punishments can be given to the student and/or his or her legal parent or guardian.




 Netherlands Antilles
15 12
-3
2010?



 Norway
16 15
-1
2009



 Northern Ireland
16 (15)
-1
2014[14]



 Poland
15-18* 15

2002
After graduating from an 8-year primary school (usually at the age of 14 or 15) one can leave school but is legally required to continue education up to the age of 18. However, this requirement can be satisfied through vocational training, without attending a school. This can be done as a part of employment, so technically the person leaves a school and works full-time.


 Portugal
18 16
-2
2009



 Romania
16 15
-1
2008?



 Russia
15
0
2004



 San Marino
16
0
2003



 Scotland
16 (13)
-3
2013[15]
Compulsory education ends usually after the age of 16 which is generally after fourth year though for some is halfway through fifth year usually. However, many students stay on to fifth and/or sixth year, where qualifications are gained for entry to university. Restrictions apply to working hours of those 13 to 16 year (i.e. maximum hours, work permits, type of work) to ensure that employment fits round requirements of full-time education.


 Serbia
14 15
1
2007



 Slovakia
16 (14)
-2
2006?
From 14 to 17, only part-time jobs allowed.
Student can leave school after 10 years of school attendance (usually 16 years) or when first school year after his/her 16th birthday is finished (whatever comes first). Most students continue until maturita exam in last year of high school (student is usually 18 at that time).


 Slovenia
15
0
2012



 Spain
16
0
2009



 Sweden
16
0
2004



  Switzerland
15
0
2001



 Ukraine
17 16
-1
2010



 Wales
16 (14)
-2
2013[16]
Full-time work starts at 16.


Oceania






















































































#
Country

De jure
Education/
Employment gap
Year
Notes
School leaving age
Employment age


 Australia
15 or 17 11 for supervised work , 13 for easy work ' 14.5 for most jobs

2011

The minimum ages from 2009 will be the following:

Northern Territory - 15;

ACT - 15;

South Australia - 17;

Queensland - 17;
Students must remain in school until they turn 16 years of age or complete Year 10, which ever comes first. From there they must be "learning or earning" which means they must be employed at least 25 hours a week, or be in full time education or be in a combination of both part time employment and part time education which adds up to at least 25 hours a week until they turn 17 or complete Year 12 or equivalent, which ever comes first.

Victoria - 17;

Western Australia - 15;

NSW - 17 (if they want to not do their HSC they need to be working at least 25 hours per week or at TAFE studying until they turn 17);

Tasmania - 17.




 Fiji
? 18

1996



 Marshall Islands
14 18
4
2005



 F.S. Micronesia
14 ?

1996



 New Zealand
16
0
2010
Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education.


 Papua New Guinea
?

2003



 Palau
17 ?

2000



 Solomon Islands
? 12

2002



School retention by country

























































































































































































































Country
2009
OECD[17]
1986
Michael Hill[18]
%-age in
full-time
education
(aged 15-19)
%-age in
full-time
education
(aged 17)
Minimum
leaving
age
required

 Australia
78 50 15

 Austria
84
NA

NA

 Belgium
91 86 16

 Brazil
70
NA

NA

 Canada
80 79 15/16

 Czech Republic
93
NA

NA

 Denmark
89 75 16/17

 Estonia
89
NA

NA

 Finland
90 91 17

 France
90 80 16

 Germany
93 100 16

 Greece
88 55 14.5

 Hungary
93
NA

NA

 Iceland
88 41 15

 Ireland
83
NA

NA

 Israel
69
NA

NA

 Italy
84 46 14

 Japan
91 15

 Luxembourg
95
NA

NA

 Mexico
61
NA

NA

 Netherlands
90 87 16

 New Zealand
73 54 15

 Norway
81 76 16
OECD average
84
NA

NA

 Poland
94
NA

NA

 Portugal
85
NA

NA

 Slovak Republic
91
NA

NA

 Slovenia
94
NA

NA

 Spain
80 53 14

 Sweden
88 86 16

  Switzerland
85 83 15/16

 Turkey
56
NA

NA

 United Kingdom
78 49 16

 United States
85 89 17


See also



  • Compulsory education

  • Education Index

  • Legal working age

  • Raising of school leaving age



Notes





  1. ^ "Country Table - At What Age?...are school-children employed, married and taken to court". The Right to Education Project. Retrieved 2014-01-02..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ Mahery, Prinslean; Proudlock, Paula (April 2011). "Legal guide to age thresholds for children and young people" (PDF) (5 ed.). Children's Institute, University of Cape Town. p. 12. Retrieved 8 October 2011.


  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2014-02-12.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)


  4. ^ Mikulecky, Marga (April 2013). "Compulsory School Age Requirements" (PDF). Education Commission of the States. Retrieved January 8, 2015.


  5. ^ "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.


  6. ^ "Getting a full-time Job at 16". Connexions Direct. Retrieved 2009-01-11.


  7. ^ Contribution to EIRO thematic feature on Youth and work - case of France Archived 2012-08-02 at Archive.is


  8. ^ "School: leaving it too early" - by Andrew Leigh Archived 2014-01-03 at the Wayback Machine.


  9. ^ Text of the German Youth Employment Protection Act in German, provided by the German Federal Ministry of Justice.


  10. ^ ab "Children and rights in Ireland". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.


  11. ^


    • "School attendance". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.


    • "Education (Welfare) Act, 2000". Irish Statute Book. §§2, 17. Retrieved 6 January 2014.




  12. ^ abc


    • "Hours of work for young people". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. Retrieved 6 January 2014.


    • "Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014.




  13. ^ "S.I. No. 2/1997 - Protection of Young Persons (Employment of Close Relatives) Regulations, 1997". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014.


  14. ^ "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.


  15. ^ "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.


  16. ^ "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.


  17. ^ Skills beyond school. p. 343. OECD. 2011


  18. ^ Percentage in full-time education at 17 related to termination ages for compulsory education in various countries (1986) Social Policy: A comparative analysis by Michael Hill




External links


  • Right to Education








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