The Australian Certificate of Education (ACE) is the name of a proposed national
senior secondary school certificate to replace the various existing Australian state and territory certificates in the upcoming
Australian Curriculum
The Australian Curriculum is a national curriculum for all primary and secondary schools in Australia under progressive development, review, and implementation. The curriculum is developed and reviewed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment an ...
. The scheme was considered by the Australian state and territory education ministers within the
Australian Qualifications Framework
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government's Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territo ...
. "Credentialling, and related assessment requirements and processes, will remain the responsibility of states and territories" - quote from the NSW Board of Studies website (which contradicts this proposed ACE).
The acronym "ACE" is already used for other educational purposes in Australia - the
Australian College of Educators
The Australian College of Educators (ACE) is an Australian national professional association for educators. Membership is open to all professional educators working in the early childhood, school, and tertiary education sectors, as well as to ed ...
,
Adult and Community Education and
Advanced Christian Education.
Development
In June 2005, the Australian Government commissioned the
Australian Council for Educational Research
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), established in 1930, is an independent educational research organisation based in Camberwell, Victoria (Melbourne) and with offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Dubai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Lond ...
(ACER), led by Professor Geoff Masters to investigate and report on models for a nationwide Australian Certificate of Education. The report was published in May 2006.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
The report proposed the creation, in stages, of a national Australian Certificate of Education to replace the current state and territory certificates. It also proposed that the certificate be awarded by state and territory authorities (th
ACACA
agencies), based on nationally consistent standards set by a national standards body.
Current Certificates
The current state and territory senior secondary school certificates are:
* NSW: Higher School Certificate (HSC)
* VIC: Victorian Certificate of Education
The Victorian Certificate of Education (often abbreviated VCE) is one credential available to secondary school students who successfully complete year 11 and 12 in the Australian state of Victoria. The VCE is the predominant choice for students ...
(VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning 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 students who successfully complete year 11 and 12 in the Australian State of Victoria si ...
(VCAL)
* QLD: Queensland Certificate of Education
The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) is the certificate awarded to students completing their secondary schooling in Queensland. The QCE was introduced in 2008, to replace the Senior Certificate. It is currently issued by the Queensland ...
(QCE), Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)
* SA: South Australian Certificate of Education
The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) is awarded to students who have successfully completed their senior secondary schooling in the state of South Australia.
The SACE Board of South Australia (formerly known as the Senior Secondar ...
(SACE)
* WA: Western Australian Certificate of Education
The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is the credential awarded to students who have completed senior secondary education (Year 11 and Year 12) in the state of Western Australia. It is the Western Australian graduation certifica ...
(WACE)
* TAS: Tasmanian Certificate of Education
The Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) is the main credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete senior high school level studies (years 11 and 12 or equivalent) in Tasmania, Australia. It was introduced in 1992 ...
(TCE)
* ACT: Australian Capital Territory Senior Secondary Certificate (ACT SSC)
* NT: Northern Territory Certificate of Education
The Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) is the credential awarded to High School students who successfully complete senior high school level studies (years 11 and 12 or equivalent) in the Northern Territory, Australia. ...
(NTCE)
Some schools choose to offer the following equivalents:
* International: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into ...
(IBDP)
* International: Advanced Christian Education
See also
*National Curriculum (Australia)
The Australian Curriculum is a national curriculum A national curriculum is a common programme of study in schools that is designed to ensure nationwide uniformity of content and standards in education. It is usually legislated by the national g ...
External links
Australian Certificate of Education: exploring a way forward - Department of Education, Employment and Workplace RelationsOur VCE is ACE: Kosky
References
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