CATH NEWS REPORT: Victorian independent school enrolments have risen by more than 6 percent and Catholic student numbers by almost 4 percent in the past three years, Victorian Education Department figures reveal, according to an investigation by the Herald Sun.
But government school numbers are flatlining, with only an extra 2057 students - a 0.38 percent increase - since 2007. This is despite annual population growth for Victoria of about 2 percent in recent years.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said yesterday: "More and more parents are choosing to make a personal financial investment in an independent school because it meets the family's social, cultural or religious values and provides the schooling that best suits their children."
But Parents Victoria, which represents state school families, said some people misjudged government schools based solely on their external appearance.
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Brian Burgess said: "We have a good story to tell in terms of things like retention rates and success at uni but we have not been very good at doing it," he said. http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=24101
But government school numbers are flatlining, with only an extra 2057 students - a 0.38 percent increase - since 2007. This is despite annual population growth for Victoria of about 2 percent in recent years.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said yesterday: "More and more parents are choosing to make a personal financial investment in an independent school because it meets the family's social, cultural or religious values and provides the schooling that best suits their children."
But Parents Victoria, which represents state school families, said some people misjudged government schools based solely on their external appearance.
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Brian Burgess said: "We have a good story to tell in terms of things like retention rates and success at uni but we have not been very good at doing it," he said. http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=24101
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