Education in Victorian Age

Since 1872 every Victorian child has been entitled to secular, compulsory, and free education to the age of 15 years. Both state and independent schools operate; some two-thirds of pupils attend state schools. Primary schools offer seven years of education, and secondary schools six years. In the early 1990s the introduction of the Victorian Certificate was a major development. The Certificate aims to encourage students to complete a full 13-year course and to provide a foundation for their further study, working lives, and participation in society. The state has several universities.