Minister releases Beyond High School report

Anna Thistle, Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education, today released Beyond High School: A Follow-Up Study of June 2001 High School Graduates. Beyond High School is a report of the activities of the high school graduates of 2001, one year following their graduation.

"Information contained in Beyond High School is key to providing students, parents, policy makers and program administrators with insight into the decisions graduates make after completing high school," said Minister Thistle. "It includes reasons for the choice of programs and institutions, information sources, and the career plans of those attending and not currently attending post-secondary."

This document is the second in a series of research initiatives undertaken by the department. The first document entitled Career Search was released in November 2002. It reported the employment and earnings of post-secondary graduates in 2000.

"During the next several weeks we plan to release a third study, which is a long-term followup of post-secondary graduates. It tracks labour market activities over a five-year period," stated Minister Thistle. "The fourth document which will be released by mid-summer, reports performance indicators on all aspects of the post-secondary system, including funding, student satisfaction and transition into the labour market."

Some of the key findings in the Beyond High School document include a breakdown of graduates attending post-secondary institutions. Seventy-one per cent of respondents were engaged in post-secondary studies at the time of survey, as compared to 65 per cent in 1995. There was also a shift in the post-secondary institutions students chose. Forty per cent of 2001 graduates attended Memorial University, up from 37 per cent in 1996; 17 per cent attended College of the North Atlantic, up from 12 per cent in 1996.

"The trend towards higher levels of post-secondary education by the youth of this province is encouraging," said Minister Thistle. "In a recent research bulletin, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) estimated that over the next five years, 70 per cent of new jobs will require a post-secondary diploma and occupations requiring a university degree will see an annual growth of 2.3 per cent. It is also encouraging to note that 93 per cent of graduates not participating in post-secondary education expressed a desire to do so in the future."

Beyond High School addresses the issue of career planning. The document indicates that parents are a primary source of career information for graduates. Fifty-four per cent of graduates report parents as a very important source of career information.

"As parents, we have a responsibility for the future of our youth," said Minister Thistle. "We must talk with our children about career planning and make ourselves aware of the resources available."

Minister Thistle added that her department is also engaged in the creation of a career development framework to address the needs of youth. This framework will enhance the linkage and coordination of career development services and resources as well as identify best practices.

Copies of Beyond High School are available by calling (709) 729-0233 or on-line at www.gov.nl.ca/youth/pub/followup/2001.htm.

Photo #1: Minister Anna Thistle during the release of the Beyond High School report.

Funding for the Beyond High School study was provided under the Canada/Newfoundland Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA)

Media contact: Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Communications, (709) 729-6573.

2003 05 06                                      11:20 a.m.