Drop out rate bolsters renewed TAFE push

Paul Dunlop
ALARM at the high number of students dropping out of secondary school has intensified calls for a better spread of education options in Pakenham.
More than 30 per cent of secondary students in the Cardinia Shire drop out of school before finishing year 12, according to statistics produced by the South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN).
Children who leave school early have also been said to have “precisely nil” alternatives for learning in the local district.
A council delegation recently met Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop to argue the case for setting up postcompulsory education and vocational training facilities in Pakenham.
Ms Bishop was told that school retention and completion rates in Cardinia were below statewide averages.
Statistics produced by SELLEN revealed only 68 per cent of Cardinia year 10 students went on to complete year 12.
The state average is around 80 per cent with the State Government hoping to boost that figure to 90 per cent by 2010.
Councillor Kate Lempriere said there was no doubt that an education and training facility, such as a technical college in Pakenham, would provide much needed options for young people.
“Population growth in Pakenham, supported by State Government policy and a receptive local development market, is fast outstripping local, regional and statebased projections,” Cr Lempriere said.
“Education provision planning for the area, based on superseded population growth data, is in danger of missing the boat of education need.
“We can’t say it loud enough or often enough. We really need more schools, more options for young people.”
Council is part of a taskforce formed last year with representatives from local industry, businesses and schools as well as officials from the SELLEN and the Department of Education and Training.
Its key focus will be to plan for provision of a TAFE college at the newly created South East Business Park, on the PakenhamKooweerup Road.
Council was unsuccessful in its bid to attract funding under the Australian Technical College program last year.
Cr Lempriere has previously accused the State Government of “dragging its tail” in improving education facilities in Pakenham and district.
She told the Gazette the Federal Government also needed to come to the party on behalf of residents in the fastgrowing area.