Policy Issues for Australia ’ s Education Systems : Evidence from International and Australian Research

Our purpose here is to discuss education policy issues in the context of empirical evidence. We note that many commonly held beliefs about Australian education such as, the relative performance and participation levels of Australian students; the importance of socioeconomic background on educational

Australian secondary students' performance Australian secondary students' performance in reading, mathematics and science is high in reading, mathematics and science is high by international standards. by international standards.

However, However,
There is no evidence that the performance There is no evidence that the performance of Australian students has improved over of Australian students has improved over the last 30 years. the last 30 years. 6 Secondary Students' Performance: Policy Implications There are strong arguments to further There are strong arguments to further increase students' achievement levels. increase students' achievement levels.
There is a need to lift the performance of There is a need to lift the performance of weaker students weaker students without without undermining the undermining the performance of other students. performance of other students. 7 Participation in Year 12: The Evidence Year 12 retention rates increased from 35% Year 12 retention rates increased from 35% in 1980 to a peak of 77% in 1992. in 1980 to a peak of 77% in 1992. However However , , Year 12 participation in Australian remains Year 12 participation in Australian remains lower than that in many other countries. lower than that in many other countries. 8 The Case Against Increasing Year 12 Participation Rates The majority of non The majority of non -completers leave school completers leave school for positive reasons such as to get a job or for positive reasons such as to get a job or apprenticeship … and most do obtain work. apprenticeship … and most do obtain work.
Relatively few say they left because they Relatively few say they left because they disliked school, or because of curriculum disliked school, or because of curriculum issues. issues. 9 The Case For Increasing Year 12 Participation Rates The labour market outcomes of early school The labour market outcomes of early school leavers are poorer than those with university leavers are poorer than those with university qualifications. qualifications. Attrition and course withdrawal are of Attrition and course withdrawal are of concern. concern.

Comparisons between early school leavers
13 Should Higher Education Participation Rates Be Increased?  ) are, on average, higher for students in scores) are, on average, higher for students in Independent schools, followed by student in Independent schools, followed by student in Catholic school and then government schools. Catholic school and then government schools.
• • Differences are reduced (by 20 Differences are reduced (by 20 --50%) by 50%) by controlling for prior differences in achievement controlling for prior differences in achievement (Year 9) and socioeconomic background. (Year 9) and socioeconomic background. 28

School Effects
Differences between schools in achievement Differences between schools in achievement outcomes are largely the result of differences outcomes are largely the result of differences between schools in the socioeconomic and between schools in the socioeconomic and academic mix of the students. academic mix of the students.
Only in a minority of schools (11 Only in a minority of schools (11 --17%) does the 17%) does the individual school significantly influence student individual school significantly influence student performance net of other factors. performance net of other factors.
Schools that succeed in lifting student Schools that succeed in lifting student performance above that expected given the social performance above that expected given the social and academic intake, are labelled and academic intake, are labelled effective effective schools. schools.