Fact Sheet - Provision of Information
Why has the Government included the principle of ‘provision of information’ in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006
One of the key factors which underpins a person’s capacity to make choices is the provision of meaningful information. The new Act includes a principle stating that information concerning the performance of education providers should be publicly available.
By including this principle in legislation the Victorian Government will ensure that all education providers will be responsible for providing information to their communities.
What type of information about education providers will be made publicly available?
Information supplied by providers should be meaningful, accurate and reflect what the provider has been able to achieve for the students who attend it. Moreover, individual provider information should take account of the circumstances faced by it. As a result, the collection and dissemination of data will be the responsibility of all individual education providers.
Government schools already share their annual reports with their local communities. These reports provide a concise summary of a school’s achievements and its progress towards improving student learning, engagement and wellbeing, as well as transitions and pathways to further education and/or employment.
What role does the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority play?
The new Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is responsible for ensuring the availability of meaningful information by registered education providers and standards for registration. The Authority will also establish and maintain a State Register of accredited courses and qualifications and registered education providers.
Won’t this just lead to the creation of league ladders of education providers?
No. There is no intention to publish collated, comparative data on providers. However, in order to make effective choices about education, parents and students require reliable information that can be easily understood. They need information about the programs offered by the provider, the learning achievements of the students and how effectively graduates make transitions to universities, post-school training providers and employment.
These changes are not about creating league ladders. Public information should be meaningful, accurate and reflect the value-add of the provider – not just raw data without consideration of context.
How can I get more information?
For more information, see the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority