“The whole direction when you were sent to school is about getting to university, and the whole focus of year 11 and 12 is what mark you get. We’ve become a nation that’s testing people all the time, when we need to become a nation that’s skilling people,” she told news.com.au. Ms Westacott said the way the Australian school system was set up — with targets to complete a year 12 education — was misguided, and that kids should be free to make informed choices about continuing their education from year nine.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/work/business-leaders-push-to-remove-stigma-around-high-school-dropouts/news-story/737112875ab7b6c0578d040d21c02a9f