By Parker McKenzie and Tyler Wright
Dandenong Ranges schools have welcomed the introduction of VCAL reforms in 2023, ahead of the Victorian State Government hosting an online question and answer session on Tuesday September 13 for students and parents to hear from experts, highlight changes to the education curriculum and address any concerns.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins said students and parents want to hear from experts about why VCE is changing,
“That’s exactly what we’re doing by holding these sessions,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for students and parents to ask any questions they might have, as well as get some answers from our experts and help prepare for the changes next year.”
From the 2023 school year, a new VCE vocational major will replace the intermediate and senior Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).
Fairhills High School Principal Ian Van Schie said he believes the changes will be good for students.
“Bringing everything back into VCE and creating a vocational major really supports students to create more flexibility,” he said.
“It reduces some of the stigmas that unfortunately VCAL had. I know at Fairhills High School, we’re focused on making sure we have an effective vocational major in 2023.”
The Ask Me Anything session will be delivered by the Department of Education and Training and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority at 7.30pm through the department’s YouTube channel.
Mater Christi College Deputy Principal of Learning Julie Stewart said the school has seen an increase in students embracing a vocational pathway.
“We’ve had an increase in the number of students taking this pathway than what we have had traditionally over the years because of the flexibility and diversity the pathway provides,” she said.
“It enables them to be able to still do some of the subjects, like the arts for example, or anything else that they enjoy without having to follow that academic-university ATAR pathway.”
The reforms were introduced after the Firth Review was commissioned in 2019, aiming to ensure all Victorian Secondary School students have “access to high-quality vocational and applied learning options,” and to “look for ways to improve transitions for students between school, post-secondary education and work.”
The final report was published in November 2020, finding more needed to be done to make vocation and applied learning in schools “high quality, highly regarded, relevant to the needs of students and employers, and available to all.”
It recommended embedding vocational education in VCE, moving to an integrated senior secondary certificate to replace the current VCAL certificate and supporting students to “develop both academic and practical skills,” according to the state government.
The State Government accepted all 36 recommendations made by the Firth Review.
Mr Van Schie said the changes have been well communicated by the State Government.
“Although it’s moved back into VCE, there is that hands-on applied component. For so many students, we see that sometimes the traditional classroom setting just does not suit them,” he said.
“They really thrive and become different people, their confidence just really soars. I’m excited that’s retained, but also that it is under the VCE umbrella.”
Ms Stewart said the changes were communicated after the school’s subject selection had already started and she hadn’t heard about the Ask Me Anything Session until contacted by the Star Mail.
“My only criticism is that it probably was a little late. It was enough time, but it wasn’t timely enough,” she said.
“From a school perspective, we started our subject selection process in week two of term three, in late July. Most secondary schools do that because you have to do staffing and timetables, it’s literally a six-month process.”
The Ask Me Anything Session will be hosted at youtube.com/channel/UCKhPMMVm-98ZlveM0VbnCGA
