Education in Australia

Education in Australia
National education budget (2009)
Budget $489 million (5.10% of GDP)[1][2] – 56th ranking of government expenditure on education worldwide.[3]
General details
Primary languages English
System type State
Established compulsory education 1830s[4]
1870s[4]
Literacy (2003)
Total 99%[2]
Male 99%[2]
Female 99%[2]
Enrollment (2008)
Total 20.4% of population[5][6]
Primary 1.9 million[5]
Secondary 1.4 million[5]
Post secondary 1 million[7]

Education in Australia encompasses the sectors of early childhood education[8] (preschool) and primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (high schools), tertiary education (universities, TAFE colleges, and vocational education and training providers) and adult education (referred to as adult and community education or ACE)[9]. Regulation and funding of education is primarily the responsibility of the States and territories, but the Federal Government also plays a funding role.[10]

Education in Australia is compulsory between the ages of five or six[11] and fifteen, sixteen or seventeen, depending on the State or territory and date of birth.[12]

For primary and secondary education, government schools educate approximately 60% of Australian students, with approximately 40% in private or independent schools.[5] At the tertiary level, the majority of Australia's universities are public, and student fees are subsidised through a student loan program where payment becomes due when graduates reach a certain income level.[13]

For primary and secondary schools, a national Australian Curriculum has been progressively developed and implemented since 2010.[14]

The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Australia as 0.993, the highest in the world.[15] In 1966, Australia signed the Convention against Discrimination in Education, which aims to combat discrimination and racial segregation in the field of education.

Regulation and funding

The regulation, operation, and funding of education is the responsibility of the States and territories, because the Federal Government does not have a specific constitutional power to pass laws with respect to education.[16] However, the Federal government helps fund independent or private schools,[17] helps fund public universities and subsidises tertiary education through a national student loan scheme,[18] and regulates vocational education providers.[19]

Post-compulsory education is regulated within the Australian Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training, and the tertiary education sector.

The Federal Government's involvement in education has been the responsibility of a number of departments over the years,[20] the present version of which is the Department of Education and Training.

The academic year in Australia varies between States and institutions, but generally runs from late January/early February until early/mid-December for primary and secondary schools, with slight variations in the inter-term holidays[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] and TAFE colleges,[29][30][31] and from late February until mid-November for universities with seasonal holidays and breaks for each educational institute.[32]

Preschool

Preschool and pre-prep programmes in Australia are relatively unregulated, and are not compulsory.[33] The first exposure many Australian children have to learning with others outside of traditional parenting is day care or a parent-run playgroup.[34] This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling, as preschool 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[35] and Victoria where the state framework, VEYLDF covers children from birth to 8 years old, is used by some schools over the federal framework. In Queensland, preschool 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.[36]

Preschools 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.[35] Preschool 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.[37] 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.[38]

Responsibility for preschools 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.[39] In all other states and territories of Australia, responsibility for preschools lie with the relevant education department.[35]

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,[40] or a net cost of around $46 a day for a long day care service offering 12-hour days.

Primary and secondary education

Compulsory attendance requirements

People attending an infants or primary school as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area

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.[12]

In the ACT,[41] NSW,[42] the Northern Territory,[43] Queensland,[44][45] South Australia,[46][47] Victoria,[48] and Western Australia,[49][50] children are legally required to attend school from the age of six years old, until the minimum leaving age. In Tasmania, the compulsory school starting age is 5 years old.[51]

In recent years, over three quarters of students stay at school until they are seventeen. Government schools educate approximately 60% of Australian students, with approximately 40% in Catholic and independent schools.[5] A small portion of students are legally home-schooled, particularly in rural areas.[52]

People attending secondary school as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area

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.[53] 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.[54][55]

Department of Education (New South Wales) Department for Education (South Australia)
Department of Education and Training (Victoria) Department of Education (Tasmania)
Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Minister for Education (Northern Territory)
Department of Education (Western Australia) Department of Education (Australia)

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,[56] 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.

Private and independent schools

In 2010 66% of students in Australia attended government schools, 20% attended Catholic schools and 14% attended independent schools.[57] 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.[58][59] Independent schools include schools operated by secular educational philosophies such as Steiner or Montessori; however, the majority of independent schools are religious, being Anglican, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or non-denominational. In addition, many private schools are also Catholic, but independent of those run by the Church and Catholic education departments, which are classed as systemic schools. [60]

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.[61][62]

Tertiary education

People attending a tertiary institution as a percentage of the local population at the 2011 census, geographically subdivided by statistical local area

Tertiary education (or higher education) in Australia is primarily study at university or a technical college[63] studying Diploma or above in order to receive a qualification or further skills and training.[64] 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.[65] 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.[66] The largest university in Australia is Monash University in Melbourne: it has five campuses and 75,000 students.[67]

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.

All students doing nationally recognised training need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).[68]

International students

On 2017 International students studying in Australia reach record number a grand total of 583,243. an increase of more than 10% on the previous year.[69][70]

Rankings

In terms of rankings, 33 Australian educational institutions are listed in the QS World University Rankings for 2016,[71] 31 institutions are listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings,[72] 29 institutions are listed in China's Academic Ranking of World Universities ranking,[73] and 26 institutions in U.S. News & World Report's Best Global Universities Rankings.[74]

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluation in 2006 ranked the Australian education system as sixth for reading, eighth for science and thirteenth for mathematics, on a worldwide scale including 56 countries.[75] The PISA evaluation in 2009 ranked the Australian education system as sixth for reading, seventh for science and ninth for mathematics, an improvement relative to the 2006 rankings.[76] In 2012, education firm Pearson ranked Australian education as thirteenth in the world [77]

The Education Index, published with the UN's Human Development Index in 2008, based on data from 2006, lists Australia as 0.993, the highest in the world.[15]

Issues and controversies

Government education policy

Despite a substantial increase in government spending per student over the past ten years (after correcting for inflation), the proportion of students who are proficient in math, reading and science have actually declined over that same period. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Menzies Research Centre have both concluded that increasing school funding above a basic level has little effect on student proficiency. Instead, they both recommend greater autonomy. That is, the states should merely monitor the performance of the schools. Individual principals should have full authority and responsibility for ensuring student proficiency in core areas.[78]

School violence

In Queensland, the Education Minister of the State of Queensland said in July 2009 that the rising levels of violence in schools in Queensland were "totally unacceptable" and that not enough had been done to combat violent behaviour. In Queensland, 55,000 school students had been suspended in 2008, nearly a third of which were for "physical misconduct".[79]

In South Australia, 175 violent attacks against students or staff were recorded in 2008.[80] Students were responsible for deliberately causing 3,000 injuries reported by teachers over two years from 2008 to 2009.[81]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Education, Employment and Workplace Relations" (PDF). Australian Government Portfolio Overview. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Australia". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. 1 2 Marion McCreadie. "The Evolution of Education in Australia". Internet Family History Association of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Primary and Secondary Education". Year Book Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "December Key Figures". Australian Demographic Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. December 2009. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "Higher Education". Year Book Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Early learning and schools support". Annual Report 2015. Australian Government. Department of Education. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Come in Cinderella: the emergence of adult and community education". Senate Standing Committee on Employment, Education & Training. 1991 – via VOCED National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
  10. ↑ Education in Australia: Regulation
  11. ↑ Agency, Digital Transformation. "School education - australia.gov.au". www.australia.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Education". Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  13. ↑ Tertiary education fees in Australia
  14. ↑ "Curriculum version history". The Australian Curriculum. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Human development indices" (PDF). Human Development Reports. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  16. ↑ "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT - SECT 51 Legislative powers of the Parliament [see Notes 10 and 11]". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  17. ↑ "AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION ACT 2013 - SECT 21 Financial assistance for schools". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING ACT 1988". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGULATOR ACT 2011". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  20. ↑ These include: Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) (1988), 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), Department of Education and Training (Australia) (2014).
  21. ↑ "School Term Dates". Department of Education (Western Australia). Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  22. ↑ "School Calendar". Department of Education and Training (New South Wales). Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  23. ↑ "South Australian State Schools Term Dates". Department of Education and Children's Services. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  24. ↑ "Term Dates". Department of Education and Training (Northern Territory). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  25. ↑ "Term Dates – Key Dates". Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria). Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  26. ↑ "Term Dates and Public Holidays" (PDF). Department of Education and Training (Australian Capital Territory). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  27. ↑ "State Schools Holidays and Qld Public Holidays". Department of Education and Training (Queensland). Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  28. ↑ "Term dates for Tasmanian Government school students". Department of Education (Tasmania). Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  29. ↑ "Term Dates". TAFE SA. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  30. ↑ "TAFE Term Dates". Swinburne University of Technology. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  31. ↑ "Student calendar". TAFE NSW. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  32. ↑ "Summary of 2010 Principal Academic Dates for Australian Universities" (PDF). Universities Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  33. ↑ "Vision and Mission" (PDF). Playgroup Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  34. ↑ "History" (PDF). Playgroup Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  35. 1 2 3 "The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia" (PDF). October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  36. ↑ Office for Early Childhood Education and Care. "Kindergarten programs". Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  37. ↑ "The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia" (PDF). Australian Education Union. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  38. ↑ Harrington, Marilyn (9 May 2008). "Enrolments, attendance and providers". Preschool education in Australia. Parliamentary Library. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  39. ↑ "Early Childhood Education" (PDF). Australian Education Union. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  40. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics. "CHILD CARE". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  41. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT 2004 - SECT 10 Child of compulsory education age—enrolment and registration". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  42. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT 1990 - SECT 21B Compulsory school-age". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  43. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT - SECT 38 Compulsory school age". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  44. ↑ "EDUCATION (GENERAL PROVISIONS) ACT 2006 - SECT 176 176 Obligation of each parent". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  45. ↑ "EDUCATION (GENERAL PROVISIONS) ACT 2006 - SECT 9 9 Meaning of compulsory school age". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  46. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT 1972 - SECT 5". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  47. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT 1972 - SECT 75". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  48. ↑ "EDUCATION AND TRAINING REFORM ACT 2006 - SECT 2.1.1 Attendance at school". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  49. ↑ "SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT 1999 - SECT 9". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  50. ↑ "SCHOOL EDUCATION ACT 1999 - SECT 6". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  51. ↑ "EDUCATION ACT 1994 - SECT 4 4. Enrolment". www.austlii.edu.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  52. ↑ "How many home educators are there in Australia?". FAQs. Home Education Association Inc (Australia). Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  53. ↑ "School fees in Australia". Study in Australia. Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  54. ↑ Lam, Miawling (17 January 2010). "Public school costs soar to $90k". The Sunday Telegraph. News Limited. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  55. ↑ Ker, Peter (3 January 2008). "Voluntary school fees under the gun". The Age. Victoria: Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  56. ↑ "What schooling and training is there for my family and me?". Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  57. ↑ "Schools, Australia, 2010". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  58. ↑ "Catholic Education Office". Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  59. ↑ "About CEC". Catholic Education Commission of NSW. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  60. ↑ "About Independent Schools". Independent Schools Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  61. ↑ "School Fees". Catholic Education – Diocese of Parramatta. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  62. ↑ Reid, Alan (May 1999). "The Redefinition of Public Education". The Australian Education Union. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  63. ↑ "Overview". Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  64. ↑ "Higher education in Australia". Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  65. ↑ "Overview". Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  66. ↑ "Universities and Higher Education - Study In Australia". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015.
  67. ↑ Maslen, Geoff (7 March 2015). "Monash revisits its inclusive roots". The Age.
  68. ↑ Cook, Chris (12 October 2015). "About". www.usi.gov.au. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  69. ↑ "International student numbers hit new high". 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  70. ↑ "Most international students come to Australia from these countries". Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  71. ↑ "QS World University Rankings® 2015/16". 11 September 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  72. ↑ "World University Rankings". 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  73. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  74. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  75. ↑ "Key findings". Programme for International Student Assessment. Australian Council for Educational Research. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  76. ↑ Shepherd, Jessica (7 December 2010). "World education rankings". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016.
  77. ↑ "World education rankings". Pearson.
  78. ↑ Donnelly, Kevin (22 June 2017). "Despite schools funding obsession, extra billions failed to lift standards". The Australian. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  79. ↑ Chilcott, T., & Odgers, R. (9 July 2009). Government can do more on school violence.The Courier-Mail, Brisbane.
  80. ↑ School violence 'dealt with' Archived 10 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. (26 June 2009). ABC News Online.
  81. ↑ Lucy Hood (27 February 2010). "Hatred, violence in our schools' classrooms". The Advertiser. News Limited. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2013.

Further reading

  • Martin, Arthur Patchett (1889). "The State Schoolmaster". Australia and the Empire (1 ed.). Edinburgh: David Douglas. pp. 157–187. — free, secular and compulsory education in colonial Australia


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