Completion
The Queensland Certificate of Education is a Certificate of completion given to students at the end of Year Twelve. It is considered a minimum qualification for most employment. A certificate was historically given at the conclusion of grade 10, known as the Junior Certificate, while the final certificate received at the conclusion of grade 12 was the Senior Certificate. It is now Queensland Government policy that student must remain in education, training, or work, until they are 17. This requirement has become known as the earning or learning policy.
Under the previous system, Apprenticeships and other post (Junior) Secondary employment and training options, coupled with compulsory attendance only until age 15 saw many students leave to enter the workforce before completing the Junior Certificate. Changes to employment conditions, compulsory education requirements and other factors have seen most students now completing Junior and attending through to Senior Certificate level. Now all students must achieve either a Queensland Certificate of Education or be working full time.
This system has only recently been applied and so the last group of year 12's to receive the traditional Senior Certificate were those who graduated at the end of 2007. Following this year all students receive a Senior Statement, showing all subjects and results achieved and eligible students will also receive a Queensland Certificate of Education. Students can keep working towards their QCE for up to nine years.
Read more about this topic: Queensland State High Schools