Students studying for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and other young people are to receive further support to complete their studies and cope with mental health struggles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, The State Premier Daniel Andrews said every Victorian student would be individually assessed.
“Any adverse impacts of coronavirus will be reflected in ATAR rankings as part of a wide-ranging process to ensure fair and accurate results in this unprecedented year of school taking a huge mental load off students and their families as we head towards exams,” Mr Andrews said
He said the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) would introduce a wide-ranging ‘Consideration of Educational Disadvantage’ process to calculate VCE scores, and take into account disruptions to learning caused by the pandemic.
“This new process will mean the only thing impacted students need to focus on is their exams – and doing their best,” the Premier said.
“In a normal year, individual students are assessed for special consideration on a case by case basis, this year schools will provide the VCAA with information on every single one of their students.”
He said the reforms would reach every Year 12 VCE student in the State, ensuring the experiences of the class of 2020 were factored into their results.
Mr Andrews said the State would also provide $28.5 million to ensure students struggling with their mental health could receive more support.
“More than 1,500 school staff will undergo additional mental health training in partnership with Headspace, to help identify at-risk students as remote learning continues,” he said.
“All specialist schools with secondary aged students will also receive funding to recruit a school-based mental health practitioner, who will build provide wrap-around support to students and families,” Mr Andrews said.