The Department of Education has announced that state of the art online vocational education and training (VET) is to be delivered in every government high school by 2022.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee said the State Government was determined to make vocational education available to as many students as possible to combat the skills shortage.
“In addition to existing face-to-face VET courses, TAFE NSW will now develop at least 20 courses for Year 11 and 12 students into online courses to provide equal study options for senior secondary students across the State,” Mr Lee said.
“From 2022, students will be combining vocational skills with academic knowledge,” he said.
“Their mathematics will be paired with advanced manufacturing, their biology with healthcare or their economics with accounting.”
Mr Lee said students would be able to pick the course that was right for them and study online without leaving their school.
“All courses available will contribute to the HSC and ATAR,” he said.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the online courses allowed small student numbers in one school to connect with students in another area to form a larger class.
“We know many schools are already doing an excellent job, and this policy will level the playing field when it comes to access, choice and industry connections,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It won’t matter where you go to school – all NSW students will be given the opportunity to learn the skills that will see them thrive in the 21st century,” she said.
