| Australian education system |
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Overview of the Australian education system School education School education has a similar structure across Australia with only slight variations between states and territories. School education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16 (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School education is thirteen years and divided into: o Preparatory year before Year 1: not compulsory but almost universally undertaken;o Primary schooling: six or seven years – Years 1-6 or 1-7; and o Secondary schooling: five or six years – Years 7-12 or 8-12. Postsecondary education is offered in two sectors · the vocational education and training (VET) sector and · the higher education sector Academic year The school year is from February to December. Most states and territories operate on a four-term per year system, but Tasmania has a three-term school year. In the vocational education and training (VET) sector, the teaching year for Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes and colleges runs from late January to mid-December; in some states and territories it is divided into three terms, while others use a semester system. In the higher education sector, most universities operate over two semesters, and the academic year begins in February and ends in November.  |
