VET pathways in schools provide better results for students

Thursday 14th June 2007

Students that undertake vocational education and training (VET) in schools have better education and employment outcomes, according to a landmark report into VET schools courses released this month.

TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute Director, Elizabeth McGregor and Carol Carrigan, Regional Director, Schools, say that the report indicates vocation-based training programs in schools are successfully delivering what students, employers and communities want.

“This report reveals that NSW students studying VET subjects are staying on to complete Year 12, as well as easing their transition into further study and employment,” they said.

“These results show that TAFE NSW, in partnership with schools is providing real education and training, and job outcomes for our VET students and this success should be celebrated.

“Well done to the teachers and staff at North Coast Institute and North Coast schools, all of whom have contributed to creating these outcomes for students,” applauded Ms Carrigan and Ms McGregor.

The independent study by the University of Melbourne was based on a survey of more than 6,000 NSW public school graduates from the 2005  HSC and corroborates the findings from the earlier survey of the 2004 HSC cohort.

“Not only are we providing skilled graduates to industry, we are providing education and training relevant to careers students are interested it.

“Students can get a head start in their chosen career while still completing the HSC,” they said.

TAFE Vocational Education and Training programs, along with a network of 25 Trade Schools across the State are part of the Department of Education and Training’s commitment to providing quality vocational education in skills and address skill shortages. The north coast will have 3 of these trade schools – in Nambucca, Ballina & Kingscliff.

“North Coast TAFE & schools jointly offer a wide range of VET training programs, many focussed in the skill shortage areas of  hospitality, commercial cookery, construction, electro-technology and automotive which had the strongest transitions to traditional apprenticeships for HSC VET students,” said Ms McGregor. “In fact, increasing numbers of students are commencing their apprenticeship while still at school.”  

“This clearly indicates that VET in schools is an effective and successful part of the NSW’s Government’s approach to meeting the NSW economy’s need for skilled workers,” they concluded.