New research highlights a widening disparity in post-school qualifications between genders and school types in Australia. An analysis conducted by the Australian Population Research Institute reveals that boys, particularly those from public schools, are significantly lagging behind girls in obtaining higher education degrees.
Data spanning a decade shows that males who attended public schools are less than half as likely to earn a degree compared to females who graduated from private or Catholic institutions. This trend raises concerns about educational equity and future career opportunities for young men.
Key Findings on Educational Outcomes
The report, authored by David McCloskey, specifically examines the pathway to becoming medical practitioners. It identifies that in New South Wales (NSW), public education has managed to produce female doctors at rates comparable to their private school counterparts. McCloskey states, “The performance of government secondary schools in NSW is significantly higher than that achieved in other states—close to double the performance of Victorian government-run secondary schools for both males and females.”
One contributing factor to this success is the presence of 47 selective entry schools in NSW, which contrasts sharply with only four in Victoria, three in Queensland, and one in Western Australia. McCloskey notes that the availability of selective entry schools reduces the over-representation of students from independent schools in high-demand professions.
The research illustrates a stark contrast in career prospects based on school type. Private school students enjoy a considerable advantage over their public school peers, while the gap is narrower when compared to those from Catholic schools. The analysis of secondary school students from 2011 to their professional status in 2021 indicates that only 17 percent of males from Queensland public schools obtained a degree. In contrast, 28 percent of females from Tasmanian public schools achieved the same.
Implications for Education Policy
Across Australia, public school graduates show that 24 percent of males and 38 percent of females go on to obtain a degree. This is contrasted with private school graduates, where the rates are significantly higher at 47 percent for males and 60 percent for females.
The findings raise critical questions about the effectiveness of current educational policies. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) stands out as the most educated region per capita, while Tasmania’s Catholic schools are the only non-secular institutions that fall short of their public equivalents in any state or territory.
The implications of this research are significant, particularly in light of the University Accord, which aims for 80 percent of Australians to hold a post-secondary qualification by 2050. McCloskey warns that without targeted initiatives to boost engagement among males in both government and Catholic school sectors, achieving these ambitious goals will be challenging.
As Australia grapples with these educational disparities, the need for comprehensive strategies to address gender and school type gaps becomes increasingly urgent. The future of many young Australians hangs in the balance as stakeholders reconsider how best to support equitable access to higher education.
