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Boys and Vocational Education
Increasing numbers of boys are disengaging from school and developing negative
attitudes to learning. Some have low self-esteem, difficulty communicating
with others and display problems at school. Some boys are experiencing learning
difficulties and the literacy gap between boys and girls is increasing.
So, what is the problem facing boys and what can be done to help?
At this Thursday's public hearing the House of Representatives Education
Committee will discuss boys' education generally, boys' and girls' relative
participation in vocational education and training (VET) and the potential
for VET to improve educational outcomes. Ms Jessie Borthwick is the Deputy
Director of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
and Ms Katrina Ball is the Manager of Research and Evaluation. The NCVER
is Australia's national vocational education and training research and
development centre and it is responsible for the collection of national
vocational education and training statistics and information relating
to vocational education and training outcomes and performance.
- Public hearing: House of Representatives Education Committee
The education of boys inquiry
Ms Jessie Borthwick
Ms Katrina Ball
- Where: Committee room 1R3, Parliament House
- When: Thursday 24 May, 9 am - 9.45 am
The House Education Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into
the education of boys focussing on the social, cultural and educational
factors affecting boys.
Mr Rod Sawford, Deputy Committee Chair, said many boys respond well
to vocational education and training (VET) and we must be sure VET in
schools is delivering the educational and employment outcomes boys need
to succeed.
"Boys have a vocational orientation to learning and some boys are reluctant
to engage with courses that, in their eyes, are irrelevant to life and
work. Many boys are attracted to vocational education and training courses
and respond well to workplace learning which they see as relevant to their
futures." Mr Sawford said. "Vocational and technology courses offered
in the late 1980s and early 1990s do not appear to have led to jobs or
further study for boys and the Committee wants to know why this is so
and whether it has changed for current VET in school courses. Also, the
Committee is interested in the large differences in the rates of boys'
and girls' participation in school-based VET."
For background information on the inquiry, visit: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr
For media comment contact Mr Rod Sawford, MP, Deputy Chair of the
House Education Committee, on (02) 6277 4944
For background information contact the Committee Secretariat on (02)
6277 4573.
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