The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a 'hands-on' option for students in Years 10, 11, and 12 and is a credential awarded to
secondary school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...
students who successfully complete year 11 and 12 in the
Australian State of
Victoria since 2002. The VCAL gives students practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. Like the
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCAL is an accredited senior secondary school qualification.
Further information in regards to attaining a VCAL can be found on than the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
VCAL is a practical education stream, where students may work in a trade or part-time job on some days of the week and supplement this by doing a set course at school.
In 2012, the Victorian Liberal/National Coalition, under the leadership of
Ted Baillieu made large funding cuts (over $300m) to the TAFE public education system, a major deliverer of VCAL courses for the youth and mature aged students, and cut funding to Secondary school VCAL programs. This resulted in students being unable to access many courses and job losses for VCAL providers for secondary schools.
Cancellation
In 2020, it was announced that the VCAL after 18 years will be merged with VCE; phasing out of the program beginning in 2022 and then wholly 'scrapped' by 2025. Education Minister
James Merlino stated that a 'single VCE certificate would make it easier for students to get a range of skills, both academic and vocational.', with the suspension of VCAL also in response to the stigma that it is solely for non-academic students. The VCAL will be replaced by the Victorian Pathways Certificate & the Victorian Certificate of Education (Vocational Major) from 2023.
[{{cite web, title=Victorian Senior Secondary Certificate Reform , url=https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/victorianseniorsecondarycertificatereform/Pages/Index.aspx , website=VCAA, access-date=1 February 2022]
See also
*
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria)
*
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
References
External links
* Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
VCAA VCAL - Victorian Certificate of Applied LearningDepartment of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria) website
Education in Victoria (Australia)
School qualifications