Education in Australia By: Kaylee Alberti (Secondary education and mathematics major)

What will I learn? How the education system in Australia works How is society helping education in Australia The future of education in Australia Retrieved from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/australia-guide/

Overview of the educational system State government provides funds and controls school systems within their state (Australian Government) Learning topics are the same for all states National government provides for universities (Australian Government) States offer Vocational Education and Training (VET) or Technical and Further Education (Tafe) 10 - 12 years long

Family day care “Home based child care and education” (FDCA) For ages of six weeks to twelve years old Take place in the home of approved educators who are monitored by a “central coordination unit” operating in coordinates with the local government and community (FDCA) Activities such as: Playing with other children Going to parks, libraries Reading Homework assignments

Primary school Typically start at the age of 5 years old in primary school until the age of 12 (years 1-7) Each room has kids of the same age Students with disabilities are put into special classes (Yes Australia) Classrooms contain boys and girls Separated in some private schools In the same classroom for the whole day Array of subjects taught by one teacher

High school Students are required to go to secondary school for years 8, 9, and 10 (Yes Australia) Receive a junior high school certificate Can enter work force or apprenticeship Years 11 and 12 are optional Required for high school diploma Retrieved from http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/172070.html

Years 11 and 12 These are the two years Universities look at You get to choose whichever classes you would like Based on interests, career, etc. Grades in each class give you a rank among other students Board of secondary studies gives a test to every student in year 12 to compare between different school (Yes Australia)

Extra facts Classes are Monday through Friday, 8:45 – 3 (Yes Australia) There are busses available for transportation, but most students walk or ride their bike The school year is from January to December

Culture Schools curriculum is very wide for many different students Drama, arts, music, public speaking skills are all offered in school (ATC) Team and individual sports are offered as well (ATC) After school an on Saturdays Provide special programs for very talents international students Along with private tuition Special sport facilities

vocational education and training (VET) Compared to a technical school in USA Develops and teaches work related skills Provides training for subjects such as : Computing, business, marketing, hospitality (ATC) Skills match that National industry standards (Atkinson) Set out by employers to satisfy what they find necessary Secondary schools (high schools) offer VET programs along with the regular school curriculum Public vocational education and training Institutes (ATC) Run from February – December Half day/full time courses available Three years long

Universities in Australia Just as here in the USA, they have public and private universities offering undergraduate and graduate programs Fee’s for paying for the Universities (Yes Australia) The government gives all citizens a free loan called HECS Paid back once the student starts earning a certain amount Then tax is deducted from income Photo retrieved from http://www.educationabroadnetwork.org/australia-semester-abroad-programs.html

Universities cont. Duration Bachelors degree – three years (sometimes two) English testing There are tests that international students in Australia have to take Measures their levels of English Required to know English to get into Universities Called IELTS, or TOEFL

Math in Australia There is a big problem with mathematics in Australia 1:12 secondary school math teaches never studied math at a university (Thomas) 1:5 secondary school math teachers only studied math their first year at a university “Graduating secondary teachers who are qualified to teach mathematics are only around 75” (Thomas) Many Universities do not offer a major in math or statistics In 2006, “only 64% of high schools offered advanced mathematics at year 12” (Thomas)

What is needed to improve the future of math? Improve awareness of mathematic careers Need to address content knowledge of current teachers Training programs to improve mathematics education in teachers Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership is proposing a two year course program (Thomas) Current Mathematicians need a stronger, louder voice in society (Thomas)

Troubles in Australian education Within the past decade : Compared to other countries, Australian students have fallen in many subjects 2nd to 7th in reading (Gillard) 5th to 13th in math (Gillard) Year 4 students were beaten by: 21 countries in reading (Gillard) 17 in math 18 in science Year 8 students beaten by : 6 countries in math (Gillard) 9 in science  

Plan of Improvements needed for the future By 2025 Australia wants to be ranked as “a top 5 country in the world for the performance of our students in Reading, Science, Mathematics, and for providing our children with a high-quality and high-equity education system” (Gillard) What will this plan do? (Gillard) Harder requirements to become a teacher Give principals more power Give parents more information about schools and their children’s education New funding; making sure schools are getting the money they need

Works Cited Atkinson, Georgina. (2011). Vocational Education and Training: The Technicolour Coat of Australia's Education System. Research Overview. Retrieved from ERIC database. (ED527162) Australian Government. What is the Australian Education System? Retrieved from http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday- life/education/whatis.htm. Australian Trade Commission. (2012). Australian school system. Retrieved from http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/en/Courses/Schools/Australian-School- System/Australian-school-system. Australian Trade Commission. (2012). VET Courses. Retrieved from http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/en/Courses/Vocational/VET-Courses/VET-courses Central Intelligence Agency (2011). CIA - The World Factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

Works cited Family Day Care Australia. Received from http://fdca.com.au/index.php/main/About%20Family%20Day%20Care#M39. Gillard, Julia. (2012). Better Schools: A National Plan for School Improvement. Retrieved from http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/better-schools-national-plan- school-improvement. Thomas, Jan. (2011). Mathematics education in Australia, 1980-2011. Retrieved from http://www.austms.org.au/Publ/Gazette/2011/Jul11/MathsMatters.pdf. Yes Australia. (2007). Educational System in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.yesaustralia.com/cursoestudo-sistemaensinoing.htm. (2012). Australian Education System, Retrieved from http://www.myqual.com.au/index.php?id=4048.