The Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) is an inclusive Year 11 and 12 certificate designed to meet the needs of students who require a more individualised and flexible program for their last two years of secondary schooling. The certificate can be an endpoint, with students recognised for and proud of what they have achieved. Alternatively, a student may use it as a jumping-off point to one of the other learning programs, most usually when they feel confident in their learning ability.
The VPC is not a senior secondary qualification; however, students can use it as a pathway to the VCE, VCE VM, or VET certificates. VPC units, being at AQF Level 1, do not provide credit into the VCE or VCE VM.
The purpose of the VPC is to:
- Equip students with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals.
- Empower students to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives by providing them with the best opportunities to achieve their personal goals and introducing them to workplace experiences.
Unit Structure
• Each VPC Unit is numbered 1 and 2 or 3 and 4
• Each unit is one semester in length
• Units 1 and 2, generally taken in Year 11, all studies must be taken as a sequence
• Units 3 and 4, all studies must be taken as a sequence in Year 12.
Satisfactory Completion of VPC
For satisfactory completion of the VPC, a student must satisfactorily complete a total of no fewer than 12 units. Failure to meet the required unit will result in NOT obtaining your VPC certificate.
Satisfactorily complete units must include:
• At least two units of VPC literacy (or units from VCE English group, including VCE Vocational Major Literacy)
• At least two units of VPC Numeracy (or units from the VCE Mathematics group, including VCE Vocational Major Numeracy)
• At least two VPC Personal Development Skills Units
• Choosing one elective each semester (Food Studies, Art and Design or Digital Literacy)
• Community Projects
Attendance
Strong attendance is vital for your success in the VPC program. At least 90% attendance is required for teachers to authenticate completion of the VPC modules. Attendance is calculated as attending class or the provision of a medical certificate to cover absences.
Reasonable Adjustments
Under the Disability Standards for Education 2005, students with a disability are entitled to reasonable adjustments to enable them to participate in education on the same basis as other students. An adjustment is considered reasonable if it achieves its aim of making sure a student with a disability can take part in their education on the same basis as students without a disability. Teachers assessing students who have needs must maintain the validity and reliability of assessment. Flexible assessment methods in the VPC program is used to allow students to demonstrate the successful completion of learning goals without disadvantage