MEDIA RELEASE
28 September 2010	Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)	120/2010

Almost one-third (31.3%) of South Australia's teaching staff was male in 2009, the highest proportion of all states and territories in Australia according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

South Australia has maintained its number one position despite the proportion of male teaching staff in schools falling from 37.5% in 1993.

Between 1993 and 2009 the number of full-time students enrolled in government schools fell by 11.9% whilst the number enrolled in non-government schools increased by 44.9%.

In 2009 35.8% of all full-time students in South Australia were enrolled in non-government schools. Only the ACT (42.6%) and Victoria (36.4%) recorded higher proportions.

Teaching staff numbers in independent schools almost doubled (up 90.7%) between 1993 and 2009 with an increase of 53.2% recorded in catholic schools over the same period. The number of teaching staff in government schools in 2009 was 9.5% lower than the number in 1993.

The full article and SA specific updates on Labour Force, State Accounts and Water can be found in the September edition of SA Stats (cat. no. 1345.4) available for free download on the ABS website.

Media note:

• Teaching staff, as defined by the National Schools Statistics collection, includes teachers as well as principals, deputy principals and senior teachers who spend most of their time in administration.
• When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) must be attributed as the source.