Educational System in Australia

ED 210 – Reporter: Jezzel Ren B. Auxtero

 What is EDUCATION?

Education is a purposeful
activity directed at achieving
certain aims, such as
transmitting knowledge or
fostering skills and character
traits. These aims may include
the development of
understanding, rationality,
kindness, and honesty.
 FYI

The Australian education system is considered

one of the best education systems in the
world, for both domestic and international
students. It enjoys high standards, a
comprehensive curriculum, and highly
qualified teachers.
 The Basics

• Education in Australia is similar across all six states – Queensland,

New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western
Australia, including two territories, the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT) and the Northern Territory, known as the Commonwealth
Territory, with only minor variations between states and territories.

• Formal schooling in Australia is divided into four educational stages

– early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, and
tertiary education. Australia is the third-largest provider of education
to international students.
 A brief history of Australia’s education system

• Australia’s first education system was an Indigenous

education. Knowledge of spirituality, cultural values and
societal obligations were orally shared among First Nations
clan members to ensure the continuation of family heritage
and traditions.

• Aboriginal children were taught skills that would enable them

to find shelter, including hunting, gathering, and fishing
methods, to ensure their survival.
• Education changed when, in 1787, eleven ships sailed
from Great Britain to Australia to create a penal
colony of European settlers, known as the First Fleet.
Fifty children were aboard.

• By 1792 the first two schools opened in New South

Wales. The education system mimicked that of
England and the philosophies of the Anglican Church.
• In 1860, alongside an improved education system,
there was the opening of universities in Sydney and
Melbourne.

• By the 19th century, private education also bloomed,

as it was the only option for those seeking university
degrees. As a result, approximately one-third of all
school students attended private schools.
• By the 20th century, changing policies made schooling
accessible and open to all members of society. This saw
students attending school beyond the compulsory schooling
age.

• In the 21st century, secondary schooling is being completed

by most demographic groups. University has become
accessible to a diverse group of students, many of whom
wouldn’t have access to such options a few decades ago.
Interesting facts about Australia Education
System

• Under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006,

schooling is compulsory for students aged between 6 and
17 years.
• In 2020, there were about 3.13 million people enrolled in
study in Australia, over half of which were female.
• he Federal budget for all Australian schools for 2021-22 is
42.4m for women to pursue STEM qualifications.
Australia’s four-stage education
system

Early childhood education (ages four to five)

Primary school education (ages six to 11)

Secondary school education (ages 12 to 18)

Higher education in Australia

 Early childhood education (ages four to five)

• Kindergarten is officially the first stage of formal

schooling in Australia. The aim is to teach children to
work with others, make friends, express their
creativity, build communication skills, and the reading,
writing and numeracy skills required to effectively
participate in subsequent learning opportunities. Help
your students prepare for the global challenges of
tomorrow with our Global Education for Teachers
course.
Primary school education (ages six to 11)

• Primary schools offer programs from Foundation

to year six. Primary education focuses on
developing essential literacy, numeracy,
intellectual and social-emotional skills.
Knowledge about the world around them is also
taught.
 Secondary school education (ages 12 to 18)

• Secondary schools cater for student’s educational needs from Year 7 to Year 12.

• In some states, students can drop out at Year 10 to enrol for vocational training and
pursue an apprenticeship.

• Australia’s secondary school education system adheres to a national curriculum

framework. Subjects taught include, mathematics, science, history, languages,
geography, the arts, health and physical education, information and communication
technology, civics and citizenship, economics and business.

• After completion of senior secondary school (Years 11 and 12), students sit for exams
and are awarded a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.
 Higher education in Australia

• Also known as tertiary education, higher education in

Australia includes all formal education beyond high
school. It’s divided into two sectors; vocational
education and training (VET), which is registered and
regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Agency
(ASQA), and universities which are registered by the
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
(TEQSA).
 A brief history of the Philippines education system
Before the Spanish arrived in 1521, there was little
formal education in the Philippines. Fathers taught their
sons how to obtain food, while mothers taught their
daughters how to do household chores.

During WWII
Educational When the Japanese occupied the Philippines in 1942
System in during the Second World War, they attempted to
discourage the use of English and adopt Japanese as the
Philippines medium of education. However, school enrolment was
low, as families felt that their children were safer at
home during this time.

The Japanese also established the Department of

Instruction, which would later become the Department of
Education in 1947. The Japanese departed the
Philippines in 1946, and the Philippines finally gained
Modern Philippines

Today’s education system in the Philippines most

closely resembles the American model. English
remains the primary medium of instruction,
although bilingual teaching of maths, science and
literature (in English and Tagalog) was introduced
under Ferdinand Marcos in 1974.

The establishment of the Technical Education and

Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in 1994
reflected a shift in government focus toward
vocational education, with courses offered in
practical skills such as vehicle repair and
bartending.
Facts about education in the Philippines

There are three agencies that handle the different levels of

the Philippines education system:
1. The Department of Education (DepEd) oversees basic
(pre-university) education.
2. The Commission on Higher Education manages tertiary
and graduate education, and
3. The Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) oversees technical-vocational courses
and middle education.
How does the education system in the
Philippines work?
• The pre-university education system in the Philippines is the K
to 12 Program (also known as K-12), which covers 13 years of
education from kindergarten to Grade 12. It was introduced
over a six-year period from 2011 to 2017, to bring the
Philippines education system in line with the rest of the world.

• Previously, the Philippines had a 10-year basic education

program, the last country in Asia to do so. Lessons are now
taught in the language local to the area.
The K-12 reforms also saw the establishment of a parallel
education system called the Alternative Learning System, or
ALS. ALS exists as a substitute for conventional education, in
cases where children are unable to attend and finish formal
basic education. For example, this may include remote
communities without schools.

ALS takes a more informal approach to education,

encouraging self-study and flexible learning timelines based
on student availability. Teaching is usually conducted at
community (barangay) centres, in libraries or at home, and is
managed by mobile ALS teachers. Through ALS, the
government improves educational equality in the Philippines.
Basic education in the Philippines

Kindergarten and elementary school

Central to the K-12 reforms was the provision of one year of kindergarten schooling for every
child in the Philippines, which is done before elementary school. Elementary school in the
Philippines covers grades 1-6.

Junior and senior high school

Junior high school in the Philippines covers grades 7-10. Senior high school (SHS) in the
Philippines covers grades 11-12 and was introduced in 2016 as part of the K to 12 program.

As well as following the core curriculum, students will choose to specialise in one of four tracks:
Academic (including business, STEM topics and humanities), Technical-Vocational-Livelihood
(including TESDA courses in cookery and welding), Sports, and Arts & Design.
•Final thoughts

Education in the Philippines has come a long

way since pre-colonial times. While the
standard of education is high, young would-be
graduates can always benefit from expanding
their knowledge. With the courses we’ve
linked to throughout this article, you can
augment your formal education and enhance
your employability when you’re ready to enter
the world of work.
Thank You!
Thanks for listening…
AUSTRALIA PHILIPPINES