PATHWAYS IN POSTCOMPULSORY EDUCATION - FROM METAPHOR TO PRACTICE

Recent official reports have advocated that schools reformulate their curricula in terms of the future pathways of their graduates, and rede fine their assessment criteria in terms of the competencies demanded b y the restructuring of the Australian economy. 'Pathways' is interpret ed by some as a 'human capital' metaphor for measuring educational out comes in terms of economic purpose. The metaphor also seems to assume that genuine pathways already exist or can be readily constructed. Thi s article reports on extensive consultation with five schools in three states to test the implementation of pathways goals within school pro grams. These schools initiated changes for 1993 to provide structures that link in-school and post-school pathways for their students. They apply a pathways focus to curriculum and school organisation, which pr ovides a model for future school practice.