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VET review: Professor urges schools to ditch VET/uni dichotomy
A Murdoch University professor has criticised schools for encouraging students to choose between a VET or university pathway.
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So in effect we could be looking at returning to Colleges of Advanced Education, which would provide advanced pathways combining cognitive knowledge and practical capabilities for vocations (including business, accountancy, law, nursing etc, so not just the traditional tradies pathways). And on the other side of the coin, Universities could and should return more to fundamental research pathways, whilst providing some of the knowledge that they uncover to those Colleges where applicable…
The problem is the ATAR system, not the schools. In order to to qualify for an ATAR you need 10 Board Developed units at Year 12 (and hence at least 12 at Year 11). That is full time. A first degree is now the equivalent of a school leavers certificate. Almost every young adult has one so to be competitive in the jobs market, almost all young adults are forced to have a degree. So 15/16 year olds are forced to choose what is needed for the ATAR and give up the vocationals.
It is easily fixed. Just work out the ATAR over a lower number of units, say the top 6/8 units and make at least one vocational subject (and/or a personal Startup) a requirement for the ATAR. That way students still qualify for university or can take another path at 18.
I always needed two types of jobs, my main career and the transportable job/s I did on holidays, between jobs and while travelling. Its important for folk to keep working “between” for their emotional and financial health. And our economy would benefit from the flexibility.
It is true the High Schools are pushing students down either the Red Path or the Blue Path. And if you are not deemed good enough they discourage your children from following the OP ‘red’ path. Especially with the half cohort graduating in 2019. universities will be affected by the decisions made by the High Schools. As they are only interested in recording stats for having students with a high OP. Nothing fair here.