Youth & education

Misconception : Access to education is no longer a problem for young people

(ILO – 2006)

It is true that education enrollment is on the rise around the world and more young people are going to school and staying in school for longer periods of time; out of 163 countries with data available on gross enrollment rates in secondary-level education, 137 saw increased rates over the period 1990 to 2002.

Gross enrollment rates also increased at the tertiary level in 124 out of 144 countries.

Yet low enrollment rates remain a substantial problem in many countries, as does illiteracy.

In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia more than a third of the youth population was still illiterate in 2002. Access to education remains a luxury that many households simply cannot afford for their children.

So, while it is true that many young people, as well as societies, are benefiting from improved education levels, it is important to remember that the gains are far from universal and that special attention still needs to be paid to promoting free and universal education in poor countries where the opportunity costs to young people and their families of staying in school are prohibitively high.

In summary :

 

Since 1995 the number of young people completing primary education has been rising4 out of 5 young people attend a secondary schoolThe number of students enrolled in further education is also rising

However there are still

113 million children who do not go to school130 million illiterate young people.

Access to education remains a problem. It does not guarantee access to decent employment. The working day is often too long, contracts uncertain and wages too low, with little or no social security.

Misconception 2: Because young people today are better educated than ever they will have less trouble finding work.

(ILO - 2006)

This statement assumes that there is sufficient demand for educated youth so that the young person holding a higher level degree will have no difficulty finding work. This is true in some developed economies, but in many developing economies, where economic development has not kept pace with the increases in educational attainment and/or the educational system has not provided young people with the skills most needed in the economy, the high unemployment rates of youth with higher education degrees show otherwise.

In South-East Asia

The largest increases in tertiary enrolment ratios were seen in South East Asia, and specifically in Cambodia and Vietnam, and yet after graduation skill mismatch is common on joining the labour market (the trained lawyer driving a taxi).

The ILO concept of the school-to-work transition: measuring the transition to “decent work”

Two things are of interest from the ILO’s point of view: first, how do we quantify and explain the number of young people who are “starting right”, meaning they are moving from school into “decent” employment that makes the most of their productive potential without significant difficulty and, conversely, those who face a “difficult” transition? Second, are there lessons to be learned in characterizing factors that influence the length and the difficulty of the transition?

The survey focuses on the transition and the variables behind the relative ease or difficulty of the transition in order to gauge where and how countries can proceed towards improving the process of matching the supply and demand for young labour. The aim of the survey is to highlight timely information on specific youth labour market challenges so that appropriate policies and programmes can be designed in response to measurable needs.

ILO school to work transition survey (SWTS)

Quantitative and qualitative variables :

Education levelYouth trainingEmployment perceptions and aspirationsLife goals and valuesJob search processFamily’s influence on choice of professionBarriers to and supports for entry into the labour marketPreference for wage employment or self-employmentAttitudes of employers towards hiring of young workersCurrent employment/working conditionsJob satisfaction...