National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97 (NAPEG)

Background

The National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97 was endorsed by Ministers at the 68th meeting (Auckland, 1992) of the Australian Education Council (AEC). [The AEC has since been subsumed into MCEETYA]. Ministers endorsed the National Action Plan as a guide to mainstream policy making at the national, system, school and community levels in order to achieve the ongoing objectives of the National Policy for the Education of Girl, and as a practical manual to assist educators to achieve these objectives in their day to day work."

The National Action Plan was succeeded in 1996 by a new report: Gender Equity: A Framework for Australian Schools. The Framework was prepared by a MCEETYA Taskforce responsible for providing advice to enable improved educational outcomes for girls and boys in Australian schools and was endorsed by Ministers at the 5th MCEETYA Meeting (Brisbane, 1996).

The Framework is designed for use by schools and systems, education practitioners, parents and school communities. It builds on the work already undertaken through the National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools and the National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97.

Where to find a copy

 

• Copies of the National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97 were distributed to every school in Australia
• Copies have also been lodged with all Australian State and Territory libraries and with the National Library of Australia.
• Copies are available for purchase from Curriculum Corporation

Foreword

As 1993 Chair of the Australian Education Council, I am pleased to introduce the National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97.

The National Action Plan represents a key developmental phase in national policy setting processes which commenced in 1986 to improve educational outcomes for girls. This major national initiative has involved all the State, Territory and Commonwealth governments working together to bring about real improvements in equality of educational outcomes for girls and boys.

The National Action Plan was developed through an entire year of extensive consultation with girls themselves, with their teachers and their parents, and with a wide range of interested groups and individuals. Based upon this detailed advice, the Plan sets out what needs to be done and how to do it. Eight priorities for action which emerged from the consultations have been clearly defined and supported by a range of suggested strategies which may be used by systems, schools, teachers and parents.

I commend this National Action Plan to all who are interested in bringing about equality of educational outcomes and improving the school experiences of Australian girls.

Norman Moore MLA
Chair, 1993
Australian Education Council

March 1993

Contents

Foreword iii
Introduction vii
The review of the National Policy 1
Purpose 3
Structure 4
Implementation 5
Priority: Examining the construction of gender 7
Priority: Eliminating sex-based harassment
Priority: Improving the educational outcomes of girls who benefit least from schooling 15
Priority: Addressing the needs of girls at risk 19
Priority: Reforming the curriculum 21
Priority: Improving teaching practice 25
Priority: Broadening work education 29
Priority: Changing school organisation and management practice 33
Reporting the educational achievements of girls 37
Commissioned Reports 43
Membership of Review Committee 47