❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Education about declining ATAR participation rates. The Minister acknowledges the issue, highlights initiatives like a review of the Year 11/12 system and WACE requirements, and hints at upcoming changes to encourage ATAR participation.
AnsweredQoN 767Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EDUCATION —
TERTIARY STUDIES PATHWAY
767. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the minister's
comments at the beginning of his tenure as Minister for Education when he said
he wants students to extend themselves by doing ATAR.
(1) With the
lowest rate of students taking ATAR subjects in the nation, what are the
minister's plans to arrest this downward trend?
(2) With the number of students preparing to sit at
least one ATAR exam decreasing from 51.06 per cent last year to 49.26 per
cent this year, what is the minister planning to do to halt this trend away
from tertiary study?
TERTIARY STUDIES PATHWAY
767. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the minister's
comments at the beginning of his tenure as Minister for Education when he said
he wants students to extend themselves by doing ATAR.
(1) With the
lowest rate of students taking ATAR subjects in the nation, what are the
minister's plans to arrest this downward trend?
(2) With the number of students preparing to sit at
least one ATAR exam decreasing from 51.06 per cent last year to 49.26 per
cent this year, what is the minister planning to do to halt this trend away
from tertiary study?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It
is great to have a question finally for my portfolio of education. It is quite
an important portfolio, so, at last, I have a question from the opposition! I stand
by the statement I made when I became the minister that ATAR is the best
preparation for students attending university. I stand by my statement that if
you have the capacity to do ATAR, you should
do ATAR. But, it is not the only avenue for students. The system and the
architecture of the current year 11 and year 12 was devised, established and
created in the 1970s and early 1980s when most students did not go into year 11.
When I was going through Kelmscott Senior High School, about 30 per cent of
students went from year 10 to year 11. Now, basically, all students go from
year 10 to year 11, so there is a greater diversity in the student population
going to year 11. There is a major issue about retention from year 11 and 12.
The member asked what I am doing. I instigated
the review. Hopefully, the member will have read the consultation draft report
that came down a couple of months ago. I have received the final report. I will
be releasing that very shortly. It has some very exciting recommendations.
Along with that, we also have a refreshment of the Western Australian
Certificate of Education system. As the member would know, I think I mentioned
last Friday when we were at the Principals' Federation of Western Australia
annual general meeting that to obtain WACE, a student must average 14 Cs out of
20. If they do not get 14 Cs, they do not
get the WACE. There will be some students who are concerned that if they take
the more difficult ATAR subjects, they may get a D and that may
disqualify them from attaining the WACE. Therefore, they may go for the easier
option of a general subject. The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is
looking at how it can be changed to reduce the disincentive on that aspect. It
is on the public record. I have also mentioned the possibility of VET subjects
being part of the ATAR matrix. All will be revealed soon. I look forward to the
member's response to the release of the final report.
is great to have a question finally for my portfolio of education. It is quite
an important portfolio, so, at last, I have a question from the opposition! I stand
by the statement I made when I became the minister that ATAR is the best
preparation for students attending university. I stand by my statement that if
you have the capacity to do ATAR, you should
do ATAR. But, it is not the only avenue for students. The system and the
architecture of the current year 11 and year 12 was devised, established and
created in the 1970s and early 1980s when most students did not go into year 11.
When I was going through Kelmscott Senior High School, about 30 per cent of
students went from year 10 to year 11. Now, basically, all students go from
year 10 to year 11, so there is a greater diversity in the student population
going to year 11. There is a major issue about retention from year 11 and 12.
The member asked what I am doing. I instigated
the review. Hopefully, the member will have read the consultation draft report
that came down a couple of months ago. I have received the final report. I will
be releasing that very shortly. It has some very exciting recommendations.
Along with that, we also have a refreshment of the Western Australian
Certificate of Education system. As the member would know, I think I mentioned
last Friday when we were at the Principals' Federation of Western Australia
annual general meeting that to obtain WACE, a student must average 14 Cs out of
20. If they do not get 14 Cs, they do not
get the WACE. There will be some students who are concerned that if they take
the more difficult ATAR subjects, they may get a D and that may
disqualify them from attaining the WACE. Therefore, they may go for the easier
option of a general subject. The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is
looking at how it can be changed to reduce the disincentive on that aspect. It
is on the public record. I have also mentioned the possibility of VET subjects
being part of the ATAR matrix. All will be revealed soon. I look forward to the
member's response to the release of the final report.
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