A comprehensive ten-year longitudinal study has revealed significant disparities in university graduation rates between male and female students in Australia, particularly highlighting the struggles of boys attending government schools. According to the research, only one in four boys from these schools successfully earns a university degree, raising concerns about their future prospects in a competitive job market.
The study, conducted by the Australian Population Research Centre, outlines a stark contrast in educational achievements. In New South Wales (NSW), 58 percent of girls from independent schools graduate from university, compared to **54 percent** of girls from Catholic schools. Meanwhile, only **48 percent** of boys from independent schools complete their degrees. The figures are even less encouraging for boys from government schools, where just **27 percent** graduate, in contrast to **40 percent** of girls from the same educational system.
Educational Disparities and Career Outcomes
The implications of these findings extend beyond graduation rates. The analysis of **ten years** of national census data indicates that students from private schools are approximately twice as likely to secure positions in highly skilled professions, such as medicine, compared to their peers from government and, to a lesser extent, Catholic schools. This trend underscores the significant career advantages associated with private schooling.
Interestingly, the study also notes an exception in NSW, where government schools have produced more high-skilled employees, including doctors, than in other Australian states. David McCloskey, the report’s author and a researcher at the Australian Population Research Centre, attributes this phenomenon to the state’s selective school system. He advocates for the establishment of more selective schools across the country to improve educational outcomes for boys.
Despite these calls for change, the NSW Department of Education has made no plans to expand the selective school system. Instead, the department states its focus is on enhancing the provision of high potential and gifted education across all schools, aiming to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The department did not address questions regarding strategies to mitigate the growing gender gap in educational attainment, leaving significant concerns about the future of male students unaddressed.
These findings highlight a pressing need for educational reform and targeted support for boys, particularly those in government schools, to foster equitable opportunities for all students in Australia. As the job market increasingly demands highly skilled workers, addressing these disparities is crucial for the country’s economic future.
