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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-10-27 Daily Xml
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YEAR 12 EXAMS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the house on preparations for end of year exams that students in their final year of school are about to take?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Early Childhood Development) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for her question and acknowledge her interest in the prospects of our young South Australians. There are a number of important transition points in the school years and perhaps none receives more public attention than the final transition from school to post-school, world of work and community life. As the year 12 swot vac draws to a close, more than 220 schools across the state are beginning to prepare for holding final exams, starting with English studies next Monday and finishing with dance studies on 19 November.

Perhaps this annual exam period always captures our attention because we recognise that another generation is about to emerge as fully-fledged adults or perhaps we have children ourselves who are preparing for exams and we know how anxious this time is for them. Whatever it is about this time that gives us cause to reflect upon it, without doubt, it is a significant period in the lives of 13,000 young people in this state who will sit their final exams this year, because it marks the culmination of more than a decade of study and preparation for adult life.

It will be a time of anger, excitement and anticipation and, at times, a confusing blend of all three. I am assured by Dr Paul Kilvert, the Chief Executive of the SACE Board, a former principal and widely respected educator, that a mix of these emotions is entirely normal. I encourage all year 12 students to heed Dr Kilvert's advice that, whatever confronts them in the weeks ahead, they keep things in perspective, draw strength from their exam preparations and seize the opportunity to demonstrate their skills that they have gained through the years—and I would add an additional one: turn up at the right time, as I found out to my horror at one of my exams.

The other one is that, to help students during this exam period, the SACE Board has a range of useful exam information including full examination timetable and study tips available on the SACE website at www.sace.sa.edu.au, and I recommend that students take advantage of these important resources.

In embarking on their SACE, students will be developing a range of skills they can use through their life in future study and work and, for this, we need to thank all of their teachers. I know that for the year 12 coordinators and principals who have provided the instruction and inspiration for their students it is a very anxious time for them as they have chartered their young people through what is a difficult year.

I have had the great pleasure of attending two year 12 functions at either end of the metropolitan area, one at Glenunga and the other at Findon, just last night. What I have seen is a fantastic group of teachers who are all going through the same process as their students, very much anticipating and concerned for their wellbeing.

We know that many more young people are going through this experience. We have heard today that we have the highest level of school retention in something like 16 years at 84.2 per cent. This reflects the dedicated effort by the government to ensure that high school is more relevant to more students and, as members would be aware, not only are we farewelling students from our schools but also the current version of SACE, with year 12 students next year being the first to graduate from the new SACE.

These new reforms have been welcomed by education experts and they provide a new opportunity for our young people as they finish their year 12. So in many ways this exam period marks a new beginning but none more important than the fresh new chapter it will open in the lives of our young South Australians. On behalf of the government I congratulate all of our year 12 students on their hard work so far, and I wish them all the best for their exams.

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