Education in Australia

Education in Australia is primarily the responsibility of the states and territories. Each state or territory government provides funding and regulates the public and private schools within its governing area. The federal government helps fund the public universities, but was not involved in setting university curriculum. As of 2012, the Australian National Curriculum, under development and trial for several years, has already been adopted by some schools and will become mandatory soon. Generally, education in Australia follows the three-tier model which includes primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (secondary schools/high schools) and tertiary education (Universities, TAFE colleges and Vocation Education and Training providers/VET providers).

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2006 evaluation ranked the Australian education system as sixth for reading, eighth for science and thirteenth for mathematics, on a worldwide scale including 56 countries. The PISA 2009 evaluation ranked the Australian education system as sixth for reading, seventh for science and ninth for mathematics, an improvement relative to the 2006 rankings.

In 2012, education firm Pearson ranked Australian education as thirteenth in the world

The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Australia as 0.993, amongst the highest in the world, tied for first with Denmark and Finland.

Education in Australia is compulsory between the ages of five and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth. Post-compulsory education is regulated within the Australian Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training (TAFE) and the higher education sector (university).

The academic year in Australia varies between states and institutions, but generally runs from late January/early February until mid-December for primary and secondary schools, with slight variations in the inter-term holidays and TAFE colleges, and from late February until mid-November for universities with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.

Pre-school

Pre-school and pre-prep programmes in Australia are relatively unregulated, and are not compulsory. The first exposure many Australian children have to learning with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup. This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling, as pre-school education is separate from primary school in all states and territories, except Western Australia where pre-school education is taught as part of the primary school system. In Queensland, pre-school programmes are often called Kindergarten or Pre-Prep, and are usually privately run but attract state government funding if run for at least 600 hours a year and delivered by a registered teacher.

Pre-schools are usually run by the state and territory governments, except in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales where they are more often run by local councils, community groups or private organisations. Pre-school is offered to three- to five-year-olds; attendance numbers vary widely between the states, but 85.7% of children attended pre-school the year before school. The year before a child is due to attend primary school is the main year for pre-school education. This year is far more commonly attended, and may take the form of a few hours of activity during weekdays.

Responsibility for pre-schools in New South Wales and Victoria, lies with the Department of Education and Communities and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), respectively. In all other states and territories of Australia, responsibility for pre-schools lie with the relevant education department.

The average net cost (taking into account the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Tax Rebate entitlements) for a long day care in Australia is $3.85 per hour, or a net cost of around $46 a day for a long day care service offering 12-hour days.

School

School education in Australia is compulsory between certain ages as specified by state or territory legislation. Depending on the state or territory, and date of birth of the child, school is compulsory from the age of five to six to the age of fifteen to seventeen. In recent years, over three quarters of students stay at school until they are seventeen. Government schools educate approximately 65% of Australian students, with approximately 34% in Catholic and independent schools. A small portion of students are legally home-schooled, particularly in rural areas.

Government schools

Government schools (also known as public schools) are free to attend for Australian citizens and permanent residents, while Catholic and independent schools usually charge attendance fees. However in addition to attendance fees; stationery, textbooks, uniforms, school camps and other schooling costs are not covered under government funding. The additional cost for schooling has been estimated to be on average $316 per year per child.

Regardless of whether a school is part of the Government, Catholic or independent systems, they are required to adhere to the same curriculum frameworks of their state or territory. The curriculum framework however provides for some flexibility in the syllabus, so that subjects such as religious education can be taught. Most school students wear uniforms, although there are varying expectations and some Australian schools do not require uniforms. A common movement among secondary schools to support student voice has taken form as organisations such as VicSRC in Victoria bring together student leaders to promote school improvement.

Notable state government schools include: Adelaide High School, Albert Park College, Balwyn High School, Box Hill High School, Brunswick Secondary College, Glenunga International High School, Glen Waverley Secondary College, Marryatville High School, McKinnon Secondary College, Melbourne Girls' College, Mount Waverley Secondary College, Princes Hill Secondary College, Rossmoyne Senior High School, Sefton High School and University High School, Melbourne. Notable selective state schools include: Baulkham Hills High School, Brisbane State High School, Fort Street High School, Girraween High School, Penrith High School, Hornsby Girls High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School, John Monash Science School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Melbourne High School, Normanhurst Boys' High School, North Sydney Boys High School, Nossal High School, Suzanne Cory High School, Sydney Boys High School, North Sydney Girls High School, Sydney Girls High School, Sydney Technical High School, Smiths Hill High School and Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

Catholic and Independent schools

In 2010 66% of students in Australia attended government schools, 20% attended Catholic schools and 14% attended independent schools. In 2000 these figures were 69%, 20% and 11% respectively.

Most Catholic schools are either run by their local parish, local diocese and their state's Catholic education department. independent schools include schools operated by secular educational philosophies such as Montessori, however, the majority of independent schools are religious, being Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or non-denominational.

Some Catholic and independent schools charge high fees, and because of this Government funding for these schools is often criticised by the Australian Education Union and the Greens.

Common ages

Students may be slightly younger or older than stated below, due to variation between states and territories. The name for the first year of primary school varies considerably between states and territories, e.g. what is known as kindergarten in ACT and NSW may mean the year preceding the first year of primary school or preschool in other states and territories. Some states vary in whether Year 7 is part of the primary or secondary years, as well as the existence of a middle school system.

Primary

Kindergarten (QLD) 3- to 4-year-olds
Pre-school / kindergarten
Kindergarten / reception / prep / pre-primary National Curriculum this year-level will be renamed: Foundation Year
Grade/Year 1: 6- to 7-year-olds
Grade/Year 2: 7- to 8-year-olds
Grade/Year 3: 8- to 9-year-olds
Grade/Year 4: 9- to 10-year-olds
Grade/Year 5: 10- to 11-year-olds
Grade/Year 6: 11- to 12-year-olds
Grade/Year 7: 12- to 13-year-olds (SA, WA)

Secondary

Year 7: 12- to 13-year-olds (ACT, NSW, NT, TAS, VIC, QLD)
Year 8: 13- to 14
Year 9: 14- to 15-year-olds
Year 10: 15- to 16-year-olds and 17 year olds
Year 11: 16- to 17-year-olds
Year 12: 17- to 18-year-olds

Comparison of ages and year levels across states and territories

Students can undertake senior school studies for up to three years. Students who complete year 12 under a reduced workload generally do this in two years, the latter being referred to as "year 13".

Age to be in school

Under the National Curriculum being developed, the first year of schooling will be known as "foundation".

In the Northern Territory, primary schools often include a pre-school. In Western Australia, primary schools often include two pre-school years.

From 2013, South Australia will have one reception intake at the beginning of term 1.

In some states and territories, children that have been formally assessed and identified as gifted may begin school earlier than the stated minimum age. Additionally, gifted students may "skip" a subject or advance to a higher academic year level in schooling.

Tertiary

Tertiary education (or higher education) in Australia is primarily study at university or a technical college in order to receive a qualification or further skills and training. A higher education provider is a body that is established or recognised by or under the law of the Australian Government, a State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory. VET providers, both public and private are registered by State and Territory governments.

There are several prominent universities located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. There are 43 universities in Australia: 40 public universities, two international universities, one private university. The largest university in Australia is Monash University in Melbourne: it has five campuses and 75,000 students.

There are non-self-accrediting higher education providers accredited by State and Territory authorities, numbering more than 150 as listed on State and Territory registers. These include several that are registered in more than one State and Territory.

Federal departments

Education in Australia has been the responsibility of the following departments:

Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) (1987)
Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) (1996)
Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) (1997)
Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) (2001)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (2007)
Department of Education (Australia) (2013)

References

External links

Australian Education System
Education and Training International. The international arm of the Western Australian (W.A.) Government's Department of Education and Training.
The Official Government School Site
edna.edu.au Education Network Australia website (Closed 30 September 2011)
Education Services Australia website
Educational Student Resource website
Studies in Australia - Get in Direct Contact with Institutions
Student in Australia Blog - Read about student life in Australia
Australian Qualifications Framework website
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria website
Glossary of Australian Education Terms
Australian Bureau of Statistics 6278.0 â€" Education and Training Experience, Australia, 2005
The National Education Directory of Australia Pty Ltd
List of Australian Universities & degrees by location
Cost/Benefit Analysis Relating to the Implementation of a Common School Starting Age and Associated Nomenclature by 1 January 2010, Report prepared for the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs, March 2006
Guide to TAFE courses in Australia
Information on education in Australia, OECD - Contains indicators and information about Australia and how it compares to other OECD and non-OECD countries
Diagram of Australian education system, OECD - Using 1997 ISCED classification of programmes and typical ages. Also in country language
Vocational Education in Australia, UNESCO-UNEVOC country profile

Education in Australia

Tuesday, May 5, 2015