Enrolment trends in non-Catholic, non-Government schools since
1962 show various interesting features. Overall the percentage of
students enrolled in such schools today is about the same as it
was in 1962, but this percentage has fluctuated in the intervening
period. It contrasts notably with the trend in Catholic schools
which is one of a sustained decline.
Further analysis reveals that the number of boarders in non-
Catholic, non-Government schools as a percentage of total
enrolments in such schools has declined markedly, and during this
decade has declined in absolute terms. This fall appears to
relate to declining rural incomes and to rural-urban migration.
The drop occurs despite the fact that increases in boarding fees
are less than increases in tuition fees, the former relating
closely to trends in the consumer price index, the latter to
movements in the gross national product per capita.
The masculinity level for All Schools and for non-Catholic,
non-Government schools is about 1O5 in each case. However, in
All Schools there has been a notable decline to reach this point,
whereas in non-Catholic, non-Government schools there has been
a steady increase in masculinity over the last fifteen years to
arrive at the same point.
Since 1962 Undenominational Schools have increased their enrolments
at a considerably faster rate than have other religions.
Presbyterian schools have lost ground, reflecting, perhaps, their
interest in non metropolitan boarding schools, a sector which has
been adversely affected in recent years, and also, perhaps,
reflecting some inertia resulting from the impending union into
the Uniting Church. In non-Catholic, non-Government schools a ratio of about 2:1
between secondary and primary enrolments seems common. Enrolments
within these two sections seem to be affected by somewhat
different factors, but a balance has been maintained at this level.
Trends noted are not the result of particular variables but of a
large number of interrelated factors. Relationships can be
noted but not causality. Many interesting paths appear, often
paths which cannot be followed in this field study. Nevertheless,
there are various questions which beg further research. For
example, why it is that New South Wales (including the Australian
Capital Territory) with the highest per capita income of any
state has the lowest percentage of school students attending
non-Catholic, non-Government schools?
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218745 |
| Date | January 1977 |
| Creators | Allen, John R., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright John R. Allen |
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