Rafy
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- HSC
- 2005
- Uni Grad
- 2008
Study shows VET courses: "less than useful'
Want a job? Change the subject
By Kelly Burke
The most practical HSC subjects may be less than useful in the real world. A study has found students who take clerical and service-industry courses are more likely to end up jobless.
The future unemployed are concentrated in a cluster of such subjects, the study found. Almost half those who studied subjects such as hospitality, retail operations and tourism failed to take up any further study or training after they left school.
The national research, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, examined the course choices made by 14,000 year 12 students in 1998 and in 2001. It found inappropriate subject selection led to a higher chance of unemployment in the long term.
Those most likely to go on to further study and secure employment included some advanced mathematics and physical sciences subjects in year 12. About half of the 41 per cent of students who studied vocational clerical and services subjects and undertook no post-school study or training were underemployed or unemployed a year later. The remaining half were concentrated in low-paid jobs.
The council's deputy chief executive officer, John Ainley, said the report did not suggest some courses led students on a path to nowhere. But there could be a case for schools focusing on fewer vocational subjects.
The president of the NSW Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley, said some students might not have done the HSC at all had they not had access to a vocational education and training (VET) course. "All [VET students] would have achieved some workplace competencies … so it's not as if it's wasted time."
Want a job? Change the subject
By Kelly Burke
The most practical HSC subjects may be less than useful in the real world. A study has found students who take clerical and service-industry courses are more likely to end up jobless.
The future unemployed are concentrated in a cluster of such subjects, the study found. Almost half those who studied subjects such as hospitality, retail operations and tourism failed to take up any further study or training after they left school.
The national research, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, examined the course choices made by 14,000 year 12 students in 1998 and in 2001. It found inappropriate subject selection led to a higher chance of unemployment in the long term.
Those most likely to go on to further study and secure employment included some advanced mathematics and physical sciences subjects in year 12. About half of the 41 per cent of students who studied vocational clerical and services subjects and undertook no post-school study or training were underemployed or unemployed a year later. The remaining half were concentrated in low-paid jobs.
The council's deputy chief executive officer, John Ainley, said the report did not suggest some courses led students on a path to nowhere. But there could be a case for schools focusing on fewer vocational subjects.
The president of the NSW Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley, said some students might not have done the HSC at all had they not had access to a vocational education and training (VET) course. "All [VET students] would have achieved some workplace competencies … so it's not as if it's wasted time."
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