Need to speed up secondary education reforms

Reforms of the critical final years of secondary schooling had to be accelerated to give young people a wider range of choices once they left school, Education Minister Kay Hallahan said today.

Mrs Hallahan said Years 11 and 12 were still largely geared towards students heading for university - even though many students would not apply for or gain a university place.

Addressing the Secondary Education Authority today, Mrs Hallahan said secondary school had to prepare students for the full range of choices beyond school, whether the workforce, training through TAFE, or University.

The Minister told the Authority's 28-member board - comprising employers, unions, educators and community representatives - that it had to speed up the Government's planned changes to high school education.

A major shakeup of secondary education was announced by Premier Carmen Lawrence last year, with several schools piloting vocationally-oriented courses this year.

Mrs Hallahan said the SEA had to examine existing subjects to see if they could be made more vocationally relevant.

"Another major task for the SEA is to develop the new Certificate of Secondary Graduation, foreshadowed in the Government's 'Foundations for the Future' education blueprint," she said.

"The certificate, which will have higher pass levels than the current certificate, will be a guarantee to employers that the student has achieved high educational standards.  It will also allow students to gain credits towards further studies at TAFE.

"These reforms are vital if high school education is to give young people sound preparation for life beyond school."

The Minister said the Government would soon announce an expansion of post-compulsory education initiatives.