A recent study has highlighted a significant educational crisis affecting boys in Australia, revealing that they are falling behind girls in both academic success and access to high-skilled jobs. The report, titled “School choice and careers,” published by the Australian Population Research Institute, indicates that only a quarter of male students from government schools progress to university, prompting calls for immediate action from state governments to address this growing disparity.
The research draws upon a decade’s worth of census data, confirming stark differences in educational outcomes across Australia’s three main school systems: government, Catholic, and independent. For instance, in Victoria, only 28 percent of boys from government schools had obtained a university degree by 2021, compared to 40 percent of boys from Catholic schools and 51 percent from independent schools. In Queensland, the situation is even more dire, with just 17 percent of male government school students achieving a degree, the lowest rate among all groups surveyed.
The report’s author, David McCloskey, emphasizes that these trends represent a concerning shift in Australia’s educational landscape. “It’s a catastrophe in terms of education for males, and the gap is widening enormously between academic success of males and females,” he stated. McCloskey argues that this inequity contradicts the national ethos of fairness and equality, suggesting that many students are being left behind.
Private School Advantage and its Implications
The analysis also reveals a significant career advantage for students attending private schools. Those from independent institutions are approximately twice as likely to be employed in high-skilled professions, such as medicine, compared to their peers from government schools. The report points out that girls from independent schools lead the way, with 41 percent securing high-skill jobs, while boys from government schools have the lowest rates at 18 percent.
Interestingly, the state of New South Wales (NSW) presents a contrasting scenario. Government schools in NSW are producing a considerable number of graduates who enter high-skill professions, particularly in medicine. The report highlights that NSW has 47 government-run select entry schools, which require students to pass a competitive exam for admission. This system appears to be more effective in preparing students for higher education compared to other states, where such schools are scarce.
McCloskey advocates for other states to adopt similar models, suggesting that increasing the number of select entry schools could provide more equitable access to high-quality education for students from diverse backgrounds. “Parents can then choose to send their kids to apply for the selective entry schools, and the pool that can do that is far wider than it would be, compared to only those who could afford the fees of the independent schools,” he noted.
Future Challenges and Solutions
The report also outlines broader challenges within the Australian education system, including the risk of failing to meet the Universities Accord target of having nine in ten school graduates obtain tertiary qualifications. Currently, only about 55 percent of the Australian working-age population holds a tertiary degree. Education researcher Dr. Melinda Hildebrandt from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute points out the significant shift in university enrollment trends over the decades, with more males now opting for trades rather than university education.
Despite these challenges, there are initiatives aimed at bridging the educational gap. In Victoria, the establishment of the Centre for Higher Education Studies in 2022 seeks to motivate high-achieving students from government schools to pursue university education. Principal Stewart Milner highlights the centre’s role in providing students with a taste of university life at no financial cost, stating, “Those sorts of opportunities can change minds. They often leave the lectures, the master classes, and the tutorials saying, ‘If this is what university is like, then I can’t wait to do it.’”
As Australia grapples with these educational disparities, the urgency for systemic change becomes increasingly apparent. Policymakers and educators must work together to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have equal access to high-quality education and the opportunities that come with it.
