Released 23/08/2021 - Joint media release
The 2021 Report on Government Services (ROGS) shows that the ACT again has the highest participation in early childhood education and vocational education and training in Australia.
“The ACT Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing the best education for our children and young people in the ACT,” said Minister for Education and Youth Affairs and Minister for Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry.
“The ACT Government’s Future of Education Strategy provides the roadmap for an education system that helps all children reach their potential. Students are safe and supported through all stages of learning, from early childhood education, schooling and their transition to careers and further education pathways.
“The ACT Governments nation-leading investment in digital education meant we were able to respond quickly to the events of 2020. Teachers and school staff continued to provide high quality education and support whether students were learning at school or at home.”
Early childhood education and care
The ACT continues to have the highest percentage of children aged 0 to 5 years attending an Australian Government approved early childhood service (56.6 per cent in 2020 compared with the national average of 44 per cent).
“Well established research has shown that the period from birth through to eight years—especially the first three years—sets the foundation for every child’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development,” said Minister for Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry.
The ACT Government’s Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT outlines the plan for early childhood education in the ACT for the next decade. Through this strategy, the ACT Government is addressing equity of access to quality early childhood education and has committed to providing universal access to free, quality early childhood education for all three year-olds.
“Currently, the government is delivering the first phase of universal access, prioritising vulnerable and disadvantaged three year olds. 500 places are available in participating early childhood and education care services, and 100 additional places are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander three year old children at a Koori Preschool.
“The ACT Government will continue to improve access to early childhood education in Canberra in a way that supports the early childhood education and care sector, educators, and families,” said Minister Berry.
School Education
“The Future of Education Strategy being implemented by all ACT public schools outlines a rounded approach to school education and a focus on equity,” said Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry.
“The Strategy recognises students as individuals and emphasises the creation of learning environments with students at the centre as well as the importance of learning for future jobs that don’t yet exist.”
The ACT Government continues its nation-leading investment in digital education and providing equitable access to devices that support a student’s education.
“Providing access to the tools that students need to give them equal opportunity ensures that irrespective of family circumstances, every student has equal opportunity to learn wherever they are and whenever they need it.
“The ACT Government is also investing in STEM subjects across all public schools by uplifting professional learning for educators, providing exciting ways for students to learn about STEM, and opportunities for students to seek opportunities and pathways in STEM,” Minister Berry said
The Future of Education Strategy also recognises teachers as expert professionals and the single most important factor in a child’s educational outcomes. The ACT Government’s affiliate schools’ program with UC is supporting teachers to grow their professional knowledge and supports pre-service teachers to be ready when they first start in schools to get the best outcomes for students.
ACT schools, students and teachers continue to perform well. In the most recent OECD’s Programme for International School Assessment (PISA) test ACT students performed better on average than students across Australia in mathematics, scientific literacy and reading literacy.
Specifically, the ACT ranked 3rd in reading (Australia ranked 17th), 4th in Science (Australia ranked 18th), and 11th in maths (Australia ranked 30th).
Additionally, the most recent ACT Post School Destinations and Pathways report shows 93 per cent of young people who graduated in 2018 were employed or undertaking further study in 2019.
Vocational education and training (VET)
“Not only did the ACT have the highest proportion of government-funded VET students participating in courses at Certificate III, Diploma level or above, but 91.1% of all government-funded ACT VET graduates were employed and/or continued on to further study after completing a course. This is a fantastic outcome and compares favourably with the national average of 84.4 per cent,” said Minister for Skills, Chris Steel.
“The ACT also had the highest proportion (91 per cent) of government-funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander VET graduates who were employed and/or enrolled in further study after they completed their training. This is markedly higher than the national average of 81.7 per cent.”
“In addition, 85.7 per cent of government-funded ACT VET graduates with a disability were in employment and/or in further study after completing a course, more than 10 percent higher than the national average (73.4 per cent).“
“Importantly, 86.8 per cent of ACT employers were satisfied with the VET provided to their employees. Again, this was above the national rate of 77.6 per cent and shows that the ACT is tracking well in providing Canberrans with quality education and training,” said Minister Steel.
“The data demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to investing in high quality vocational education and training programs that support Canberrans to reach their full potential.”
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases