Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/223313

Title

A road to success through TAFE: eight reasons for schools to re-evaluate the TAFE option

Author(s)

Pitt, Heather

Abstract

Over the recent years there has been a strong emphasis on secondary schools preparing students for tertiary study, with many schools building their reputation on the number of students achieving a score which will gain them entry into a university course. Indeed, recent research indicates that securing a TAFE place is not regarded as a successful outcome of Year 12, either by secondary school students, or the community at large. This research explored the perceptions of TAFE held by eight young male post-VCE students undertaking the TAFE Associate Diploma of Business (Marketing) at a predominantly middle-class secondary school, which appears to contribute to these students' initial 'under-achievement' in TAFE, and encourages a perception that TAFE is best suited to tradesmen. This paper presents a case for revisiting the manner in which the TAFE option is presented to male secondary school students, especially those who attend middle-class schools and are not achieving at a level at which they believe they could or should. It provides an example of research that suggests changes for practice.

Publication type

Conference paper

Source

Proceeding of 'Changing practice through research: changing research through practice', the 7th Annual International Conference on Post-compulsory Education and Training, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 06-08 December 1999, pp. 18-27

Publication year

1999

Keyword(s)

Australia;  Educational research;  Equity;  Post-compulsory education;  Postcompulsory education;  Secondary education;  TAFE;  Teaching and learning;  Tertiary education;  Vocational education and training

Publisher

Centre for Learning and Work Research, Griffith University

Publisher URL

http://hdl.voced.edu.au/10707/16889

Copyright

Copyright © 1999.

Peer reviewed