Fact Sheet - Principle of Choice
What does the Victorian Government mean by the principle of ‘choice’ in school education?
Although the neighbourhood school remains the cornerstone of communities and the choice of many parents, the reality for contemporary school education is that parents and students do choose between government and non-government schools, as well as between individual government schools and individual non-government schools.
Further to this, parents and students choose between formal schooling and non-formal educational settings, as well as between training providers.
Why has the Government included the principles of ‘choice’ in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006?
This new legislation recognises as a principle the right of parents to choose an appropriate educational setting for their child. Parents want and should be able to choose the educational environment that most suits the learning needs of their child. By including this principle in the Act, we are reflecting the realities of 21st century education and acknowledging the diversity of choices within and across sectors.
Of course, the Government acknowledges the ability to exercise choice is not dependent only on the capacity of education providers to supply diverse educational experiences. Choice also depends on the geographic and economic circumstances of the family.
This is why all education and training providers need to be of a high quality. For this reason, legislation has established a new regulatory authority – the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority - to ensure minimum standards for all school and post school providers are met.
Why does the right of a child to attend a designated neighbourhood school need to be included in legislation?
Although the neighbourhood school remains the choice of many parents, enshrining this right in the Act ensures that all students will have this opportunity and can attend a designated government school. All Victorian students should have the opportunity to receive a quality education and achieve their learning potential.
Some parents may wish their child to attend a school other than their designated government school – the Act also allows this to occur.
How can I get more information?
For more information, see the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2007 (http://www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubStatbook.nsf/).
See also the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (http://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/).