More young Queenslanders are opting for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships over tertiary studies, recent figures have revealed.
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is becoming an increasingly popular option for students – with the number of Queenslanders in school-based programs soaring to almost double in five years.
According to a News Limited report, 16,739 young people completed a VET qualification in 2007, compared to almost 29,000 recorded last year – an increase of more than 10,000.
The diverse range of VET subjects, which lead to a wide range of career options, are thought to be an incentive for more Queenslanders to embark on hands-on training programs.
However, with the rocketing figures in VET programs, the number of OP-eligible students has fallen across the Sunshine State from 26,182 in 2007 to 25,944 last year.
Jodi Schmidt, Department of Education, Training and Employment acting director-general, said VET qualifications were diverse – helping school-leavers without an OP obtain university entrance.
She commented: “I do think that the number of pathways from vocational outcomes to higher level (tertiary) outcomes have become greater – and significantly greater.
“This generation of students are looking to make sure that their options are not closed off in any way and therefore complementing a school curriculum with Vocational Education and Training competency outcomes gives them a well-rounded view of that.”
