Minister for Education and Training

The Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth said students planning to undertake a Year 10 equivalent course at TAFE from next year would now have access to a wide range of approved industry-based courses.

"From next year, as part of changes to the school leaving age, all NSW students must complete Year 10 and most students will do this it at school," Ms Firth said.

"For some students, TAFE may be a better option for them and they'll be able to complete the equivalent of Year 10 at TAFE as they always have.

"In addition, students will now have the option of choosing from 150 other TAFE courses which will also be recognised as the Year 10 equivalent.

"For the first time, those courses will be offered as a Certificate II course which will give them entry-level qualifications and improve their chances of gaining
employment."

Approved Certificate II courses include:
• Agriculture and Horticulture
• Conservation and Land Management
• Automotive Mechanical
• Construction
• Aquaculture.

Ms Firth said individual TAFE Institutes would determine what courses were available based on the vocational needs of students in their region as well as employment
opportunities and available resources.

"Our focus is to equip this small number of students with the right skills and give them a head-start for a career.

"What's suitable for a student in the city may not be suitable for a student in Dubbo or Ballina - that's why the courses will be offered on a case-by-case, region-by-region basis," Ms Firth said.

"Students wishing to attend TAFE to complete a course equivalent to Year 10 will need to show they have the ability to study in a TAFE environment and an interest in
a specific vocational education and training course.

"For school-aged students who want a general education or those who haven't made up their mind about a career, the school setting is still the best place to complete their
education," Ms Firth said.

Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth today announced a record 69,261 students across NSW were getting ready to sit their Higher School Certificate.

Ms Firth said written exams would begin on Tuesday 20 October, beginning with Business Studies and Classical Greek.

"With final classes this week and only three weeks until the HSC, this is a challenging time for our students," Ms Firth said.

"However, students should remember that whatever the outcome, they have already accomplished a great deal in reaching this point.

"I wish every student in the HSC class of 2009 well in their exams."

Ms Firth said students would be able to access a range of resources to assist with their exam preparation, including an advice line and website.

"These services offer support in specific subjects, as well as past papers, self-tests and a personalised exam timetable," she said.

"I encourage all HSC students to utilise these services and ensure they get the most out of these final crucial weeks of preparation."

From 17 October, the HSC Advice Line - 13 11 12 - will provide support in 19 subjects.

Students can also access a wide range of HSC resources on the Board of Studies website at studentsonline.bos.nsw.edu.au.

HSC results will be available to students by internet, SMS and automated telephone message from 6am on Wednesday 16 December.

Students will receive their HSC Results Summary Notice in the mail from 18 December and their formal HSC credentials on 12 January 2010.

HSC class of 2009 Facts and Figures

• Exams end on Friday 13 November, with the final exam in Information Technology.
• English is the largest course, with 65 171 students.
• 52 455 Year 12 students have chosen to study a Mathematics course, which s the most popular HSC elective.
• Almost one-third (31 per cent) of this year’s HSC candidates will gain ationally recognised employment qualifications along with their HSC through heir study of Vocational Education and Training courses.
• This year’s three most popular languages are Japanese (1627 students), hinese (1617) and French (1439).
• The female to male ratio remains stable at 52 per cent female students ompared with 48 per cent male students – unchanged since 2002.
• There are 578 sets of twins, 16 sets of triplets and 1 set of quads undertaking the HSC. This compares with 516 sets of twins and 11 sets of triplets in 2008.

The NSW Government will train teachers in the latest literacy teaching techniques to boost the State's literacy rates.

NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said the new teaching methods were targeted at strengthening the status of NSW as a world literacy
leader.

"A recent OECD study ranked NSW 15 year olds as among the best readers in the world," Ms Firth said.

"Our state's reputation is testament to the hard work of our teachers and students, and the rigour of the NSW literacy curriculum.

"The new methods are the cutting edge in literacy teaching techniques and were developed in conjunction with teachers and expert researchers.

"This is an investment in a better future for students and teachers in NSW.

"These new teaching tools will provide teachers with practical advice on explicit literacy teaching strategies, like phonics.

"NSW public schools are leading the way in the development of these new teaching methods with independent schools now following our lead.

"They are the first in what will be a series of guides that put the spotlight on different aspects of literacy fundamental to students' overall literacy development," he said.

Ms Firth said NSW had an innovative and research-driven approach to literacy that constantly challenges students to improve on their already high standards.

"What the research tells us is what many instinctively know: that literacy is a fundamental life skill, fundamental to our schooling, our development as
individuals and to our society," Ms Firth said.

"This is about turning expert, evidence-based research on literacy into balanced, systematic and integrated resources for teachers.

Telegraph is wrong - no plans to sell large quantities of school land

Telegraph is wrong - no plans to sell large quantities of school land

New figures released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research confirmed NSW is the premier state in driving growth and delivering quality apprenticeships and traineeships across Australia.

Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth today said 70 percent of all growth in apprenticeship
and traineeship completions in the year to December 2008 were in NSW.

"That's an incredible market-share and proof that NSW is the driving force in equipping the nation's workforce and delivering the highest quality of training," said Ms Firth.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research data revealed:
• 57 per cent of the total growth in commencements across Australia was in NSW - with 89,300 people commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship in NSW, compared with 82,000
the previous year
• there were 36,700 apprentices and trainees in NSW aged 45 or more, representing annual growth of 18.2% (compared to annual national growth of 12.4%)
• in December 2008, 137,100 apprentices and trainees were employed in the state.

Minister Firth said the NSW Government was committed to continuing the drive for more apprenticeship and traineeship completions.

"NSW is clearly performing well against other states thanks to our commitment to vocational education and training and our record $11.8 billion education and training budget this financial year," the Minister said.

"Our State Training Services regional centres work with employers, apprentices and trainees across the state to ensure all our young people have the best chance of completing their qualifications and enjoying a secure future.

"We are also looking after apprentices and trainees affected by the global financial crisis.

"The NSW Government has introduced the Continuing Apprenticeship Placement Service to make sure all out-of-trade apprentices and trainees working in skill shortage areas can find a new employer to complete their training.

"More than one apprentice a week has found a new job through this service since it was announced by the Premier at the end of March," Ms Firth said.

Minister Firth said the NSW Government is also considering future directions for apprenticeship training to build on the strength of the state's current system.

"The Board of Vocational Education and Training is establishing an Apprenticeships Futures Taskforce to advise on options to secure apprentice training during the current economic situation and support employers to continue training for the future," she said.

"The NSW Government is also playing its part through the Premier's commitment to increase NSW government apprenticeships by 1,000 per year for the next four years.

"Our significant infrastructure program through schools and public housing is providing extensive apprentice opportunities in communities across the state.

"We need to do all we can to ensure our apprentices are supported at this time and to ensure that we have an appropriately skilled workforce as the economy starts to pick up again," she added.