Science Education News (SEN) Journal 2017 Volume 66 Number 4 December 2017 | Page 33

ARTICLES
Australia’s Education Asset
By George Pinniger
This morning I heard the Treasurer, Mr Scott Morrison, MP,
discussing the importance of Trade. He said that one in five jobs
in Australia existed because of our trade with overseas countries
– and I have no doubt he is correct. It prompted me to agree with
him, hence to ask him a serious question.
traditionally had taken trades courses, as apprentices, at TAFEs
or other Colleges. Consequently there was a serious shortfall
in the number of tradespeople who emerged, so their salaries
soared, creating a financial challenge for those employing them.
Yes, along with the resources boom, this drove inflation even
higher. Moreover, once the university graduates emerged the
society had insufficient places to employ them, particularly for
those having simple Bachelors’ degrees. Many wished they’d
taken a trade course instead!
Scott Morrison
Australia possesses one remarkable asset – education. It’s
remarkable because it doesn’t need to be mined, planted,
watered or harvested, but it does need to be financed. It is
currently the third highest earner of GDP this country ‘exports’,
partly because so many overseas students pay to study here in
schools and universities across the country, and also due to their
accommodation, food and travel expenses, plus the tourism they
generate by their curiosity to see the wonders of this continent,
and through visits by their families and friends.
Gough Whitlam
Furthermore, when they return home, most are strong verbal
ambassadors for our country.
Curiously, statistics suggest that the parents of students from
the Indian subcontinent and South-east Asia on average rate
Education as having 92% importance, whilst on average children
having both parents born in Australia rate Education in the middle
60s. How did we manage to develop such a remarkable asset
that, at least currently, many Australians regard as having only
moderate worth? A TAFE College
In 1972 Gough Whitlam convinced me that “It’s Time!” It was the
first time I voted Labor. During a turbulent three years he faced
two elections, there was very high inflation, and frequent political
turmoil, but whilst numerous innovative programs were blocked
by a hostile Senate, several were passed. One of these was
to provide free university education to those who managed to
achieve entry ranking and wished to take on an academic career.
One negative aspect of this was a large drop in the numbers who On the positive side, however, many took their knowledge and
skills into schools. Between 1970 and 1975, the proportion of
university graduates in all faculties in most secondary schools
doubled, tripled, soared. Certain pioneering schools, mostly
wealthy private colleges, sent representatives to Hong Kong (at
that time still a British territory so learning English was avoided)
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 66 NO 4