More than 12,000 Year 12 students will soon be achieving their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), with many of these looking to pursue a career in the electrotechnology industry. The ‘Class of 2010’ will be the final group of students to graduate with the current high school certificate - next year’s Year 12s will be the first to undertake the new SACE.

The current SACE has served as a stepping stone for students into further study or work for almost 20 years, and is recognised around the country and internationally. The new SACE, which was developed following consultation with industry, parents and teachers, includes several key changes:

• increased Vocational Education and Training (VET) options
• a greater focus on literacy and numeracy standards
• two new subjects – the Personal Learning Plan and the Research Project

The changes to the SACE have been designed to give students greater flexibility in pursuing a trade or other vocational program, as well as giving them a head-start on their future career. Further information for businesses about the new certificate, SACE student skills, and vocational education and training, is available on the SACE website:

http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/the-sace/business-community

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

The new SACE gives students the opportunity to undertake more Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of their SACE. From 2011, students can complete their certificate with a comprehensive VET focus, paving a pathway for them into industry jobs, apprenticeships and traineeships, or further vocational study after high school.

The SACE Board recognises VET assessed by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), which are the providers of VET courses.

SACE Board Chief Executive, Dr Paul Kilvert said: “By allowing students to have more VET recognised as part of their SACE, students have a greater opportunity to learn in areas that are of interest to them.”

The changes are seen as a big step forward by many employers, who are supportive of student’s finishing school with more job-ready skills and who are also more prepared for work by gaining education that is specific to their profession while still at school.

VET qualifications can enable students to work in many areas including industries where there are skills shortages in South Australia, such as the health industry.

Details of any VET study that students have successfully undertaken as part of their SACE is listed on their Record of Achievement, which they receive with their SACE in December.

Skills for Work and Life

The new SACE is designed to ensure all students have the skills they need to engage in work and life. Students are being supported to plan their career pathway and develop flexible skills while at the same time gaining literacy and numeracy skills which can be applied to all areas of their lives.

The new SACE sets benchmarks for literacy and numeracy that ensure all young people have the skills they need to function effectively in today’s society. Students need to achieve a C-grade or higher in an English and mathematics subject or course in Year 11 to gain the new certificate.

The Personal Learning Plan, which all students undertake from Year 10, helps students explore their career options and plan pathways into trades, further education or other work. Students also examine their strengths and weaknesses, and develop methods of improving areas of their personality or study.

The Research Project allows Year 12 students to build on what they learn in the Personal Learning Plan, giving them a chance to do in-depth research into a topic of interest. This could include examining which energy efficient light bulb is the most cost effective and why. The Research Project not only gives students a chance to direct their own learning, but also helps them develop valuable research and project-management skills they can apply in their future career.

More information for employers about VET, the new certificate and SACE student skills, as well as a list of useful links, can be found on the SACE website at:

http://www.sace.sa.edu.au/the-sace/business-community

Source: SACE Board of South Australia