STEM failing in schools despite government focus






Comment by Peter Roberts

Despite all the noise from policymakers promoting STEM study in schools, the statistics present another depressing picture of Australia’s failing VET education system.

Figures released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show a continuing fall in STEM subject in Australian schools.

In 2018 compared to 2017:

# VET in Schools students decreased by 4.7 per cent

# school-based apprentices and trainees decreased by 8.9 per cent

# students undertaking other VET in Schools programmes decreased by 4.3 per cent.

These falls match regular NCVER studies of adult vet education in freefall over the past five years, as reported onmany occasions by @AuManufacturinf news.

In fact falling numbers in schools in the past five years almost guarantee falling adult numbers.

STEM in schools between 2014 to 2018:

# VET in Schools students decreased by 6.7 per cent

# school-based apprentices and trainees decreased by 13.3 per cent

# students undertaking other VET in Schools programs decreased by 6.0 per cent.

In 2018 there were 230 700 VET in Schools students and 18 200 school-based apprentices and trainees.

Clearly national policies are not working in either schools or the adult world to increase skills.

We seem to have a plethora of programmes, but they are too small and, obviously, ineffectual to reverse this worrisome decline.

Where is the minister of industry in all this?

Picture: nIdustry minister, Karen Andrews

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.



Share this Story




Stay Informed


Go to Top