National education advocates are pushing for a standardised test to replace the state-specific matriculation exams, which they say impact Australia's international tertiary standing.
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Outlined by the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), the national certificate of education would take the place of such exams as the HSC in NSW and the VCE in Victoria.
CEO of the association, Phil Honeywood, explained that in its current form, the states are having to compete against themselves for the uptake of international students.
"The timing is right for this to happen. For example, in China some years ago there were 200 international high schools teaching curricula from around the world," Mr Honeywood said.
"Now there are 700 [international high schools] and each state's curriculum is having to compete for the students.
"The VCE is being taught in about 50 which means the majority of the students who come to Australia for their post-secondary study, are coming to Victoria."
The standardised national curriculum would also provide easier avenues for domestic students to attend universities outside their home state, with results in pre-requisite high school subjects transferring without trouble.
In the wake of the pandemic-induced economic effects on Australian university, the IEAA has tabled a report to federal parliament calling for the curriculum changes to now be adopted.
"If it's good enough for USA and Canada to have one national curriculum, then it's good enough for us too," Mr Honeywood said.