Title: Life as a Teen inAustralia
Headings: Australia
Life as a Teen in…
Australia
Home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Dividing Range, the Great Australian Bight and, best of all, Vegemite. Australia truly is a beautiful country!
Flora, Fauna and Landscape
Language
Worldview
School
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Family

Content: English and Mathematics are both compulsory in most states throughout all school years. Students can choose any subject they wish. If the school does not offer it onsite, Distance Education (DE) can be arranged. Children living in the outback do all their schooling through DE. Upon entering senior (year 11 and 12), students must choose subjects that will be continued until graduation. In senior year, students can also choose to take a school-based traineeship. This enables them to complete a certificate or begin an apprenticeship while still studying at school. Rural schools are so small that they usually have only one or two teachers on staff. Due to the low number of students and teachers, the classes are merged into one or two rooms. It is also difficult for schools to find teachers to employ, as not many want to live in the country, where they will miss the many luxuries that city life offers.