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The 2016 Census has revealed a decline in the proportion of primary school students who were attending a non-government school since the last Census.
Private school enrolments declined from 32.7% to 31.8% between 2011 and 2016, however, there was a slight increase in the proportion for secondary school students (42.1% to 42.8% in non-government schools).
This means the proportion across all schools was roughly stable (36.5% in 2016 compared to 36.7% in 2011).
According to Nicholas Biddle, associate professor, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University (ANU), these results show the move to the non-government sector seen over previous periods may have slowed, or even reversed.
“Another important current policy debate relates to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS),” he wrote in The Conversation.
“While the census isn’t ideal for understanding changes in rates of disability, there is a very important question about whether people have a “core activity need for assistance”.
Biddle says the one particular result that stands out is the rapid increase in the number of children and youth reported to have such a need.
“Between 2011 and 2016, the proportion of those aged 19 years or under reported as having a core activity need for assistance increased from 2.1% to 2.7%, excluding the not-stated population,” he said.
Biddle pointed out that while these proportions might not seem large, it represents an extra 38,209 individuals, or a 34.5% increase in children and youth with a core activity need for assistance.
Bilingualism needs ‘urgent attention’
The Census 2016 data showed the number of people who only speak English at home has risen by more than 500,000, compared with the 2011 data.
This figure highlighted that the share of this group declined from 77% in 2011, to 73% in 2016.
Mandarin remains the second-most commonly spoken language in Australia after English, followed by Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
Tim Mayfield, executive director of the Asia Education Foundation, told SBS World News the data demonstrates the need for a greater emphasis to be placed on bilingualism for secondary school students.
“It's interesting to note that Australian students are learning second languages less and less, compared to our historical track record as a country - at a time where we're becoming more immersed in the region,” Mayfield said.
“In the 1960s we had roughly 40% of school leavers graduating year 12 with a (second) language, now it's down to 10%. That's at a time where our overall engagement with the Asian region has increased. Clearly there's a problem there.
“Do we view language learning as important as numeracy and literacy? And if so, we need to come up with strategies to fund it appropriately, but also come up with a united approach across all jurisdictions.”