Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 10—Education and training 409
retention rate to Year 12 has exceeded the male
rate since 1975. In non-government schools, the
female rate has exceeded that of males since
1982.
Care should be taken in interpreting apparent
retention rates since a range of factors affecting
their calculation has not been taken into account.
At the national level these include the effects of
students who repeat a year of education,
migration, and changing characteristics of the
school population, such as the growing number
of full-fee paying overseas students.
Comparisons between government and
non-government schools should also be made
with caution because of the net transfer of
students from government to non-government
schools, which tends to inflate the apparent
retention rates in non-government schools and
reduce the government school rates.
Funding of schools
On an accrual basis, the primary and secondary
education expenses of Australian governments
totalled $16,870m in 1998–99. Preschool and
other special education expenses added $1,173m.
State, Territory and local governments also spent
large sums on other aspects of schooling such as
transporting students. Preschool, primary,
secondary, and other special education expenses
were largely met by State, Territory and local
governments (table 10.29). The change from a
cash to an accrual basis makes 1998–99 estimates
difficult to compare with those for previous years.
Unpublished data from the Ministerial Council on
Education, Employment, Training and Youth
Affairs show that in 1998, non-government
schools derived 43% of their income from private
sources, 40% from the Commonwealth
Government, and 17% from State grants.
Non-government schools operate under
conditions determined by government
authorities, usually registration boards, in each
State and Territory. These conditions require that
minimum education standards are met and that
the schools have satisfactory premises. The
majority of non-government schools are Catholic,
and there is a Catholic Education Commission in
each State and Territory and at the national level.
Most other non-government schools are under
the auspices of, or run by, other religious
denominations.
Primary and secondary education is free in
government schools in all States and Territories.
However, fees may be charged for the hire of text
books and other school equipment (particularly
in secondary schools) and voluntary levies may
be sought from parents.
Most State and Territory Governments provide
financial assistance to parents for educational
expenses, under specified conditions. Assistance
includes scholarships, bursaries, transport and
boarding allowances, many of which are intended
to assist low-income families. The
Commonwealth Government also provides a
number of schemes of assistance to facilitate
access to education.
10.6 APPARENT RETENTION RATES TO YEAR 12, from Year 7/8—1967–1999
%
Females non-government
100
Males non-government
Females government
Males government
80
0
1967 1973 1979 1986 1992 1999
Source: Department of Employment, Education and Training, ‘Retention and Participation in
Australian Schools 1967 to 1992’; Schools, Australia (4221.0).
60
40
20