The College was purpose built in 2010 to accommodate a number of vocational areas of study. The facilities for teaching Construction was really well designed - plenty of space for working & teaching, storage area for tools & equipment, and storage for wood also.
Hi Jorgen, in recent years the Australian government has invested heavily ($$$) into infrastructure within schools to support vocational learning. Traditionally vocational training is delivered by state owned colleges, which serve adult students as well. Our school is a private faith based (Catholic) high school with @280 students ranging in age 16-19. Vocational courses in schools are often an add on to the normal academic subjects. Our College was purpose build with vocational training the focus.
That was interesting to hear. Vocational education is important, unfortunately in Sweden the number of students choosing vocational program in secondary level is declining. Even thought in might be easy to find a job after a vocational program and choosing a theoretical program will mean that you will have to take a vocational program after the exam. In Sweden youth unimployment is too high. Ingemar
Hi Ingemar, As the College is part of the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, which is responsible for the leadership, efficient operation and management of 149 parish primary and regional secondary schools within the Archdiocese. There are more than 68,700 students enrolled in its schools. As these schools are classified as private, all students (or their parents) need to pay school fees. Even though our school is vocationally focussed, the school fees are the same as another 'normal' high school.
It is very interesting to read about the differences between these educational systems, especially when it comes to crucially important stuff like financing. I wonder, Catherine, what are the public schools like? Can a public school provide comparable training to what your school does?
Hi Catherine! I wonder also about the interaction between the school's mission to train carpentry and the school's religious foundation. Must the students be catholic? Do you worship together? Does this create peace within the school? Unity? Conflict??
Perhaps religion and practical skills can be developed together. When I was a kid (in the US), my church contributed to projects in Central America where volunteers would travel to cities like Managua, Nicaragua and help to build in this case an orphanage for homeless children. I got to tag along on a couple of these trips and that was in fact my first experience of building. Perhaps your school does these sorts of things?
Hey Cathrine it looks like you invest more in vocational high school in Australia than in Sweden. Is this high school state owned or private?
ReplyDeleteHi Jorgen, in recent years the Australian government has invested heavily ($$$) into infrastructure within schools to support vocational learning. Traditionally vocational training is delivered by state owned colleges, which serve adult students as well. Our school is a private faith based (Catholic) high school with @280 students ranging in age 16-19. Vocational courses in schools are often an add on to the normal academic subjects. Our College was purpose build with vocational training the focus.
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting to hear. Vocational education is important, unfortunately in Sweden the number of students choosing vocational program in secondary level is declining. Even thought in might be easy to find a job after a vocational program and choosing a theoretical program will mean that you will have to take a vocational program after the exam.
ReplyDeleteIn Sweden youth unimployment is too high.
Ingemar
Do the students pay or how do they get along finacially?
ReplyDeleteHi Ingemar, As the College is part of the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, which is responsible for the leadership, efficient operation and management of 149 parish primary and regional secondary schools within the Archdiocese. There are more than 68,700 students enrolled in its schools. As these schools are classified as private, all students (or their parents) need to pay school fees. Even though our school is vocationally focussed, the school fees are the same as another 'normal' high school.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to read about the differences between these educational systems, especially when it comes to crucially important stuff like financing. I wonder, Catherine, what are the public schools like? Can a public school provide comparable training to what your school does?
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine! I wonder also about the interaction between the school's mission to train carpentry and the school's religious foundation. Must the students be catholic? Do you worship together? Does this create peace within the school? Unity? Conflict??
ReplyDeletePerhaps religion and practical skills can be developed together. When I was a kid (in the US), my church contributed to projects in Central America where volunteers would travel to cities like Managua, Nicaragua and help to build in this case an orphanage for homeless children. I got to tag along on a couple of these trips and that was in fact my first experience of building. Perhaps your school does these sorts of things?
ReplyDelete