YEAR 12 RESULTS SLIDE AS MINISTER SITS ON OVERDUE EDUCATION REVIEW

The number of Year 12 government school students successfully meeting graduation requirements has fallen to its lowest level in nine years under the Cook Labor Government.

State Budget figures show just 78.8 per cent of year 12s in government schools achieved a WA Certificate of Education (WACE) last year, prompting the Opposition to renew calls for the Cook Labor Government to release its overdue response to the Pathways to Post-School Success Review.

The Review, aimed at ensuring secondary students can successfully transition into further education, training or employment, was handed to the Government in October 2024. After more than 18 months, the Government has still failed to formally respond to any of its 33 recommendations.
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WACE achievement rates have missed the Government’s own targets for two consecutive years and have now fallen to their lowest level under WA Labor, with the Government quietly lowering its 2026 target back to the 2023 level of 82 per cent.

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Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari pressed the Minister for Education on the delay during Question Time in State Parliament today.
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"At a time when WACE attainment rates languish, the Education Minister is sitting on the review, and quite frankly that’s disrespectful to the government and non-government advisory group which worked on the report,” Mr Staltari said.
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"This Government review was commissioned almost three years ago with great fanfare to provide clarity around senior secondary school pathways and post-secondary options. Yet schools, parents and education experts remain in the dark about what the Government intends to do.
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"Why commission a review if the public are made to wait years to see any outcome?" Mr Staltari said the delay reflected a broader pattern of announcements without action.

"Lightning fast on announcements, but far too slow on delivery - that's this Government's record on education," he said.

"Students, parents and teachers deserve better than a review gathering dust on the Minister's desk while results go backwards.

"The Minister should release the Government's response to the Review without further delay and set out a clear timeline for acting on its 33 recommendations."

Media contact: Graham Mason – 0419 194 792

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