Victorian students continue to disengage with their education, as new data reveals student attendance has fallen to record lows.

Released recently, data from the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2025 has confirmed:

• Victoria is the only state or territory where student school attendance was lower in 2024, than compared to two years prior.
• 53 per cent of Year 7 to 10 Victorian students attended school less than 90 per cent of the time.
• Only 65 per cent of students who left school in 2023 are fully engaged in work, study or a combination of both – down from 91 per cent in 2019.
• The Victorian State Government education funding per student is the second lowest in the Commonwealth.

This continued disengagement comes as the latest NAPLAN data confirms almost 30 per cent of students are failing to meet basic standards in English and Mathematics, and overall educational outcomes are worsening relative to other states.

Shadow Minister for Education, Jess Wilson, said: “This troubling data shows the depth of student disengagement with their education under Labor.

“Whilst other states are making meaningful progress to strengthen student engagement, Victorian students continue to fall further behind.

“Less time in the classroom and within a school community means poorer educational and life outcomes, yet the Government has no plan to address this growing school attendance crisis that has occurred on their watch.” 

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 14 February 2025.