Education in Australia is compulsory for ages between the ages of five or six years and fifteen, sixteen and seventeen, depending up on the residing state and date of birth. States and territories are completely responsible for education systems because Federal Government does not have any power to pass laws regarding to education. However the Federal Government funds public schools and private schools in Melbourne, universities (through national student loan scheme) and regulates vocational education providers.
Education system in Australia can be divided in to the following categories
1. Preschool: This is the first exposure for a child to outside learning from traditional parenting. This type of schooling is unregulated and not compulsory as it is not considered to be a form of formal education. Many private high school in Melbourne provide this exposure to children to accustom them to formal education and teaching. Pre-school is offered for 3-5 years old.
2. Primary school: This is the first stage of formal education of a student. It starts from kindergarten to years 6 or 7. The duration of this stage of education is for 7 to 8 years. The students are legally required to attend school from this age.
3. Secondary School: It is a period of 3 to 4 years and goes up to year 10.
4. Senior secondary school: years 11 and 12 come under this part of education. This is the last stage of compulsory education of a child.
5. Tertiary education: This level education includes higher education (like universities and colleges) and vocation education and training (VET).
Few students in the rural areas are home schooled by parents because of lack of proper facilities. Most education instituted mode of instruction is English, though few provide bilingual facility. All the educational facilities need to adhere to a single education curriculum designed by the state.