Fed: Students taking on VET subjects in greater numbers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2000
Fed: Students taking on VET subjects in greater numbers

Senior school students are increasingly abandoning traditional subjects in favour of
workforce-related technical and vocational studies.

A study by the Australian Council for Educational Research has found one in six Year
12 students are now enrolled in at least one vocational course.

Participation in the courses is even greater among students from poorer backgrounds
and those whose parents have a low level of education.

The study was carried out for the period from 1993 to 1998.

In 1993, enrolments in technology subjects made up just over 10 per cent of total subject
enrolments.

By 1998 the figure had grown to 13.5 per cent.

In 1993 some 20 per cent of students studied at least one computing subject in year
12, a figure that rose to around 28 per cent by 1998.

The study has also found more boys than girls choose to study maths, sciences, technical
studies, computers and physical education.

Girls are predominant in the humanities and social sicences, biological sciences, the
arts, languages and home sciences.

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KEYWORD: SUBJECTS (CANBERRA)

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