6 July 2005
Teenagers in Victoria are more likely to complete their Year 12 studies than pupils from any other Australian state, a Monash University report has revealed.
Mr Michael Long, of the university's Faculty of Education, said last year's Year 12 pupil retention rate was 81.1 per cent in Victoria, compared with the national average of 75.7 per cent.
"Last year, participation in full-time schooling by Victorians aged 15 to19 was the highest of any of the larger states -- with 56.7 per cent in Victoria, compared with 50.5 per cent nationally," Mr Long said.
Participation in full-time further study by Victorian teens who had left school was also higher than the national average -- 71.8 per cent compared with 68.7 per cent Australia-wide.
Young Victorians also participated in more full-time study and full-time work than their interstate counterparts. "In Victoria the figure was 88.1 per cent compared with 84.8 per cent nationally," Mr Long said.
However, the report also showed that Victorians measured below the national average for participation in vocational education and training in schools. In 2003, the figures were 27.8 per cent for Victoria compared with 48.3 per cent nationally.
"The apparently lower level of participation in vocational training and education in schools in Victoria is partly due to the higher fees charged in Victorian schools for these programs, but mainly due to Victoria's policy of focusing on higher-level nationally-accredited qualifications," Mr Long said.
Mr Long is a research fellow in the Monash University-ACER Centre for the Economics of Education and Training, which is co-sponsored by Monash and the Australian Council for Educational Research.
The report, which examined education, training and employment outcomes in Victoria since the Labor Party took office in 1999, was prepared for the Dusseldorp Skills Forum in association with the Education Foundation and the Business Council of Australia.
To view the report visit: www.dsf.org.au/papers/174/SettingThePace_0.pdf
For further information or to interview Mr Michael Long, contact Ms Robyn Anns, Monash Media Communications, on +61 3 9905 9317 or 0417 568 781.
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