Achievements and Aspirations in Mathematics and Science in Two School Systems

Over the past several years the Federal Government has, as a matter of policy sought to increase the retention rates of students to Year 12. Whereas in the past fewer girls than boys completed Year 12, this trend has been reversed in the late 80's. Retention rates in Science especially for girls have increased dramatically, from 26% in 1970 to 57.1% in 1987. For males during the same period the increase has been from 34% to 49.3% (Laeter et al,1989). But, as the Commonwealth Schools Commission reports, there is still sex segmentation of the labour market (reported in Firkin,et al, 1986). Women are still not moving into vocational education where cadetships and apprenticeships are offered. Girls remain hampered in technological areas because they have either failed or failed to continue in higher levels of Mathematics and Science. If girls do Science at all in Years 11 and 12, they are still more likely to take Biology rather than Physics or Chemistry.