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Question

Difficulty: MediumEquality of Opportunity in Education

Australian society values the ability for everyone to reach their full potential through learning and personal development. Which of the following is a correct application of the principle of equality of opportunity in education?

  1. A
    The government guarantees that all students will achieve the same high grades regardless of their individual effort.
  2. Everyone has the same legal right to apply for a place in a school or university and choose their own field of study.Answer
  3. C
    Educational institutions may reserve specific science and engineering courses for men to maintain traditional workplace balances.

Answer

Everyone has the same legal right to apply for a place in a school or university and choose their own field of study.
The principle of equality of opportunity in education means that every person in Australia has the same legal right to pursue their studies, apply for educational positions, and choose what they want to learn based on their own interests and abilities, without discrimination.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core principle of 'equality of opportunity'.
It means having an equal chance to succeed and the same legal rights to pursue goals.
This distinguishes the concept from equality of outcome (equal results).
2
Apply this principle to the Australian education system.
No person should be barred from studying a subject or enrolling in an institution based on their background or gender.
Australian law protects the right of all individuals to access education freely.
3
Evaluate the provided options against this definition.
The statement about equal legal rights to apply and choose fields of study correctly reflects the principle.
The other options either promise equal results (grades) or suggest gender-based restrictions, both of which are incorrect in the Australian context.

Key Concept

Equality of Opportunity in Education

Hints

1
Think about whether 'opportunity' refers to the starting point of a journey or the final destination.
2
Consider if Australian law allows schools to stop someone from studying a subject just because of who they are.

Practice More

Review the section on 'A Fair Go' in the citizenship handbook to see how opportunity applies to employment as well as education.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Equality of Opportunity in Education

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