Future SACE and the NTCE
The aim of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) review, initiated in 2004, was to create more flexible learning arrangements where students would develop the business, interpersonal and employment-related skills needed for the future. Answers to your frequently asked questions are provided below and more detailed information and the SACE Review Report are available on the future SACE website.
Your questions answered
Why does the NT base its NTCE on the SACE?
Providing a senior secondary certificate that is rigorous and has national recognition, is an expensive operation that requires a high degree of specialist curriculum and assessment expertise. It is not cost effective for the NT to develop its own senior secondary certificate. It makes sense for us to base our Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE) on a nationally accredited certificate that is recognised by tertiary institutions, training bodies and employer groups across Australia. The Northern Territory was once administered by South Australia. When the Commonwealth and later the NT Government assumed control of NT education, the NT continued to use the South Australian curriculum and assessment frameworks for its senior secondary certificate and has done so ever since.
Do we have to continue to use the future SACE as the basis for the NTCE?
The Northern Territory has used South Australia’s curriculum and assessment frameworks as a basis for the NTCE for many years. In that time NT teachers have developed extensive knowledge and expertise about the South Australian senior secondary curriculum and assessment processes. NT teachers have also built a strong relationship with many educators in South Australia. While the NT could choose to base its senior secondary certificate on one available in another state or territory, it would require extensive professional development for teachers, curriculum officers and data operators. It would also require extensive changes to our IT infrastructure to allow for students results to be transmitted to another state or territory.
However, the Northern Territory Board of Studies is committed to providing students the best senior secondary certificate possible and will consider all comments from stakeholders about the future SACE before providing final advice to the Minister on a future NTCE for NT students.
Does everything in the future NTCE have to be exactly the same as the future SACE?
There can be some minor differences between a future SACE and a future NTCE, in particular in the completion requirements for the certificate. While the NT uses the South Australian curriculum and assessment frameworks as the basis for the NTCE, completion requirements for the current SACE and NTCE are slightly different. The NT has the opportunity to consider the completion requirements for the future SACE and comment on their suitability as completion requirements for a future NTCE.
How will students currently doing the NTCE be affected by these changes to the SACE?
The future SACE will be phased in over time.
- In 2009 Year 10 students will be the first group to commence the future SACE by undertaking a compulsory unit called the Personal Learning Plan.
- In 2010 Year 11 students will study Stage 1 of the future SACE.
- In 2011 the first group of Year 12 students will complete their future SACE certificate.
Any changes to the NTCE will not happen before 2009 and again these changes will be phased in over time. Students who are currently undertaking the NTCE, or who are due to commence Year 11 in 2007, 2008 and 2009 will not be affected by these changes. The authority that will administer the future SACE will ensure that no student is disadvantaged with these changes.
Will these changes effect what's happening in the middle years and senior years in the NT?
Changes to the future SACE align with the changes that are being implemented in the middle years in the NT.
In 2009, students will be required to commence their SACE in Year 10 by undertaking a compulsory subject called the Personal Learning Plan. This subject will assist students in preparing for their future learning in the senior years and for the transition from school to work or further education. Placing Year 10 students with Years 11 and 12 to form the senior years, will strengthen the links between the Year 10 curriculum and a future NTCE based on the future SACE.
The focus on literacy and numeracy in the middle years will be continued with the inclusion of compulsory literacy and numeracy requirements in the future SACE. The focus on integrated and specialist learning in the middle years will provide an excellent preparation for students undertaking learning opportunities in the future SACE.
Future SACE
Details on the future SACE are available at www.futuresace.sa.gov.au.