Educational pathways for young people cannot be viewed as a linear progression through primary, secondary, and tertiary level institutions. The number of young people aged between 15-19 who have not attained their senior school certificate, and who are undertaking vocational education and training (VET), exceeds 127,000. Yet, vocational training can also be complex, undertaken within and beyond the mainstream secondary school context, and often in both simultaneously. In addition, we can no longer assume that vocational training for young people will take place solely within large, state funde
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Educational pathways for young people cannot be viewed as a linear progression through primary, secondary, and tertiary level institutions. The number of young people aged between 15-19 who have not attained their senior school certificate, and who are undertaking vocational education and training (VET), exceeds 127,000. Yet, vocational training can also be complex, undertaken within and beyond the mainstream secondary school context, and often in both simultaneously. In addition, we can no longer assume that vocational training for young people will take place solely within large, state funded institutions such as TAFEs. A greater reliance by state and federal governments on market driven funding models - as well as on subsidised training entitlements - has contributed to a rapid growth in the number of private commercial registered training organisations (PCRTOs) that are training the 15-19 year old cohort. Little is known about how this much commented upon provider type approaches the training of 15-19 year olds, and particularly those that had failed to attain Year 12 level.
This presentation conveys findings of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) funded research into the role played by PCRTOs in delivering entry-level programs (Certificates I and II) for 15-19 year old early school leavers. It draws on nation-wide semi-quantitative surveying of private providers, interviews with industry stakeholders, and with those working in case study PCRTOs in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. It shows how PCRTOs respond to the needs of early school leavers, as well as the role played by entry level vocational programs in this context. It will identify innovation and adaptation of conventional approaches to vocational training, as well as the changes that may be needed to ensure that this growing cohort of often disadvantaged learners achieve successful outcomes.
Published abstract.
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