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Chapter 2
Resourcing Australia's schools
Student participation and teaching resources
In 2008, the enrolments of Australian school students in the school system were approximately:
- 66 per cent in government schools
- 34 per cent in non-government schools.
Table 2.1 details student enrolments over the four-year period, 2005-08.
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Table 2.1 School sector enrolments, Australia, 2005-08 |
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| Sector |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Government |
2,246,087 |
2,248,229 |
2,268,377 |
2,264,554 |
| Non-government |
1,102,052 |
1,120,498r |
1,148,146 |
1,169,737 |
| Catholic |
672,982 |
679,408 |
690,910 |
696,577 |
| Other |
429,070 |
440,399 |
457,236 |
473,160 |
| All schools |
3,348,139 |
3,368,727r |
3,416,523 |
3,434,291 |
r revised
Source: ABS, Cat. No. 4221.0, Schools Australia, 2005-08
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In terms of staffing, approximately
- 65 per cent of Australia's school teachers work in government schools;
- 35 per cent of Australia's school teachers work in non-government schools.
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Table 2.2 Full-time equivalent (FTE) of teaching staff, Australia, 2005-08 |
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| Sector |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Government |
156,564 |
158,194 |
160,791 |
161,351 |
| Non-government |
79,231 |
81,445 |
83,567 |
85,756 |
| Catholic |
43,971 |
44,870 |
45,717 |
46,390 |
| Other |
35,260 |
36,575 |
37,850 |
39,366 |
| All schools |
235,794 |
239,639 |
244,358 |
247,107 |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.
Source: ABS, Cat. No. 4221.0, Schools Australia, 2008, and Australian Government DEEWR data
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Total FTE teaching numbers increased by 2,749 in 2008, which constitutes an increase of 1.1 per cent. In 2008 there was a 2.8 per cent decrease in the number of graduates from initial teacher-education courses, from 15,938 graduates in 2007 to 15,492 graduates in 2008 (see Table 2.3) This decrease follows the decrease of 2007, which was the first decrease since 2000 when the reporting of this data commenced in the National Report on Schooling in Australia. In addition, the question of adequate supply of teachers in specific subject areas, such as secondary maths and science, continues to be of concern in many States and Territories.
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Table 2.3 Number of persons graduating from initial teacher education courses, Australia, 2004-08 |
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| Year |
No. of graduates |
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| 2004 |
15,014 |
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| 2005 |
15,565 |
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| 2006 |
16,004 |
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| 2007 |
15,938 |
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| 2008 |
15,492 |
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Source: MCEETYA, National Report on Schooling in Australia, 2004-08, Appendix 1: Statistical annex, Table 18
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Student-teacher ratios vary by sector and school category, as detailed in Table 2.4.
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Table 2.4 Full-time equivalent (FTE) student-teacher ratios, by sector and school category, Australia, 2004-08 |
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| Sector and category |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Government primary |
16.2 |
16.1 |
15.8 |
15.7 |
15.6 |
| Government secondary |
12.4 |
12.4 |
12.4 |
12.3 |
12.3 |
| Catholic primary |
18.2 |
17.9 |
17.7 |
17.8 |
17.6 |
| Catholic secondary |
13.1 |
13.1 |
12.9 |
12.8 |
12.8 |
| Independent primary |
14.9 |
14.6 |
14.4 |
14.7 |
14.7 |
| Independent secondary |
10.9 |
10.7 |
10.7 |
10.5 |
10.5 |
| All schools |
14.3 |
14.2 |
14.1 |
14.0 |
13.9 |
Note: |
In 2003 the ABS changed the way it published student-teacher ratios, adopting the method that compared teaching FTE with student FTE. Previously, teaching FTE had been compared with full-time students. The new method is considered to be a more accurate reflection of resource usage.
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Source: MCEETYA, National Report on Schooling in Australia, 2004-08 Appendix 1: Statistical annex, Table 16; ABS, Cat. No. 4220, Schools Australia, NSSC, Table 63a
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Introduction | Background | Student participation and teaching resources | Funding for government schools | Funding for non-government schools | Capital expenditure
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