Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a 'hands-on' option for students in Years 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 since 2002. The VCAL gives students practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. Like the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCAL is an accredited senior secondary school qualification.

Further information in regards to attaining a VCAL can be found on than the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.[1][2]

VCAL is a practical education stream, where students may work in a trade or part-time job on some days of the week and supplement this by doing a set course at school.

In 2012, the Victorian Liberal/National Coalition, under the leadership of Ted Baillieu made large funding cuts (over $300m) to the TAFE public education system, a major deliverer of VCAL courses for the youth and mature aged students, and cut funding to Secondary school VCAL programs. This resulted in students being unable to access many courses and job losses for VCAL providers for secondary schools.[3][4]

Cancellation

In 2020, it was announced that the VCAL after 18 years will be merged with VCE; phasing out of the program beginning in 2022 and then wholly 'scrapped' by 2025. Education Minister James Merlino stated that a 'single VCE certificate would make it easier for students to get a range of skills, both academic and vocational.', with the suspension of VCAL also in response to the stigma that it is solely for non-academic students. [5]

See also

References
  1. "What is the VCAL?". www.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  2. "Compulsory Strands". www.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  3. Savage, Alison; Bell, Frances. "Baillieu defends TAFE cuts". ABC News. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  4. Himmelreich, Everard. "MP blasts axing of equine courses". The Standard. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  5. Carey, Adam. "Vocational high school certificate to be scrapped". The Age. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
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