4220.0 - Schools, Australia, Preliminary, 1999  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/01/2000   
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MEDIA RELEASE

January 20, 2000
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
3/2000
Schools census shows increase in teaching staff

Preliminary results from the 1999 National Schools Census last August show an increase in the number of full-time equivalent teaching staff in Australia since August 1998.

The results were released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. They indicate that at government schools, the number of full-time equivalent teaching staff increased by 3.0% (to 150,482), while at non-government schools the increase was 3.5% (to 65,252).

Other findings from the report include:
  • The total number of school students increased by slightly more than 28,000 since August 1998 to 3.2 million full-time students in August 1999;
  • Nearly 62% of Australia's 17-year-olds attended school full-time in August 1999, compared to almost 81% of 16-year-olds and more than 92% of 15-year-olds, reflecting little change from 1998;
  • The apparent retention rate of secondary school students from Year 7/8 to Year 12 was 72.3%, while the rate from Year 10 to Year 12 was 74.4%;
  • Government school student numbers increased by 0.4% from 1998 to 2,248,000 while attendance at non-government schools increased by 2.1% to 979,000. These growth rates are similar to those of the previous year;
  • There were 9,588 schools in Australia, of which 73% (6,970) were government schools and 27% (2,618) non-government schools.

This information was collected through the National Schools Statistics Collection, which was established through the work of the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs Taskforce on School Statistics.

This preliminary data provides a statistical overview of schooling in Australia, including details of schools, students and staff in the government and non-government sector. This information helps the community and government make informed decisions concerning education throughout Australia.

Further details can be found in Schools, Australia, Preliminary 1999 (cat. no. 4220.0), available from ABS bookshops in all capital cities.

If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication telephone 02 6252 5249.