The Review of Senior Secondary Pathways into Work, Further Education and Training: discussion paper

The 'Review of senior secondary pathways into work, further education and training' will provide the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Education Council with advice and recommendations on how senior secondary students can better understand and be enabled to choose the most appropriate pathway to support their transition into work, further education and/or training. In undertaking the Review, the expert panel will give consideration to the different contexts faced by students, including students with disability, those in regional, rural and remote areas, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The panel is focused on five key questions: (1) What are the essential skills and knowledge with which young people should leave secondary school in order to enhance their lifetime career prospects whilst meeting Australia’s future workforce needs? Whose job is it to make sure they acquire them? (2) Are current arrangements both in schools, at work, and in tertiary education supporting students to access the most appropriate pathways? Are routes sufficiently flexible to allow young people easily to change direction? (3) What are the barriers to allowing all students to have equal access to the pathways that are available? (4) What is being done well to help students make effective and well-informed choices? The panel wishes to examine career education; different schooling models; vocational and work-related learning in schools; and industry-education partnerships; and (5) How can we collect and disseminate the data we need to understand young peoples' choices and help governments to make informed public policy decisions?

This discussion paper is designed to stimulate debate. It does not claim to cover the full range of issues impacting on senior secondary pathways. It seeks to explore the key issues and problems facing senior secondary students as they seek to find a route through increasingly complex learning pathways. A complementary background paper has also been prepared [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 137.1083]. It provides a deeper dive into many of the issues, based on supporting evidence and research. Feedback will be accepted until 7 December 2019 and will inform the Review's findings. The Review will be led by Peter Shergold and the expert panel will comprise six members with expertise covering school operations, industry, vocational education and training (VET), university entry requirements, student engagement and wellbeing, and the delivery of secondary education to disadvantaged students. The Review will report to the Education Council in June 2020.

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