EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Further information from the public consultation phase can be found here: Education and training

Topics	Proposed actions
Attendance at an educational institution	Retain existing topic, with minor change to response categories to be tested.
Highest year of schooling	Retain existing topic without change.
Highest non-school qualifications	Retain existing topic, with minor change to be tested (includes collection of the year the qualification was completed).
Journey to education (NEW)	Moderate case for new topic (see Transport theme).

Feedback from stakeholders confirms that education and training topics should continue on the Census. Measures of participation in education and training enhances understanding of different population groups and helps governments and businesses make decisions like planning the size and location of educational institutions.


ATTENDANCE AT AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Submissions indicated that there are concerns with respondents’ understanding of the ‘attendance at an educational institution’ question, particularly with those attending preschool or participating in vocational education and training. The wording of these response categories will be reviewed to ensure that the data collected meets the needs of users.

Testing will also explore improving identifying people who do not attend an institution in person, for example undertaking distance education or home schooling.


HIGHEST NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION

Submissions noted that the data from this topic is coded using the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001 (cat. no. 1272.0). There were significant changes in classifying qualifications after 1998, resulting in a current question asking if the highest non-school qualification was obtained prior to 1998.

Submissions identified an opportunity to enhance this topic by asking the respondent to record the year the qualification was obtained. With this amendment, the ABS would be able to identify the age of qualifications.

The ABS will test the value and quality of data resulting from this change, noting that it may be more difficult for some respondents to recall the year of completing their qualifications when compared to ticking a box about completing the qualification prior to 1998.