Students in their final year of school won't need to repeat the year despite the interruption to their education caused by coronavirus, federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has announced.
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"The message out of the Education Council is clear, there will be no Year 13, no mass repeating," Mr Tehan said in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"Every student will get an ATAR certificate so they can go on to university, vocational employment and employment next year."
Further work will be done to determine how students' grades will be assessed, with the Council of Australia Governments' education council to receive more advice in May.
The decision will ultimately lie with each state and territory, with some jurisdictions considering including year 11 grades in assessment towards the final ATAR score.
"The ACT does not need to consider approaches being considered by other jurisdictions."
- Education Minister Yvette Berry
The ACT's unique way of assessing students for their final score already includes using school-based assessments from year 11, and doesn't rely on jurisdiction-wide final exams like other states.
"The system in the ACT allows for flexibility in assessment types and scheduling to be adjusted by schools and still meet the requirements of the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies," ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said.
"The ACT does not need to consider approaches being considered by other jurisdictions."
There will be changes to assessment schedules and types as colleges adjust their teaching to respond to the circumstances, including more online learning.
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Ms Berry said the public colleges were working to ensure no student was disadvantaged by the disrupted year and signaled the ACT government was working to make sure every student had internet at home.
The ACT government moved schools to pupil-free days two weeks ago ahead of the school holidays, with a decision on whether classes will move fully online in term two expected soon.
In Victoria, the decision has already been made to hold exams in December instead of October and November, and the General Assessment Test (GAT) to be held in October or November instead of June.
The university sector is also calling for certainty on the timelines for assessment to ensure students are able to enter university in 2021.
Admissions processes are likely to be different to previous years, Universities Australia said on Tuesday.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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Sally Whyte
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
