Prime Minister Tony Abbott planning US-style high schools in Australia

TONY Abbott has been inspired by the US to set up new high schools backed by large companies that churn out students with skills in demand.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott visits P-Tech High School in Brooklyn, New York City during his visit to the United States. Pic: Josh Wilson / Office of The Prime Minister

TONY Abbott wants to set up new high schools backed by large companies that train students in vocational skills and put them first in line to get a job.

The radical plan could see new type of technical high schools that allow students to gain qualifications without incurring HECS or FEE-HELP debts.

But the model would also increase costs for the Federal Government at a time it is trying to crimp future education spending and could set up another funding stoush with state governments.

It could also set up a two-tier system of qualifications, with students who undertake apprenticeships or tertiary study hit with higher fees and those at the new schools escaping major charges.

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Mr Abbott said he wanted large employers to team up with schools to churn out students with skills in demand.

“There are so many young people about to leave school wondering where their jobs will come from,” Mr Abbott said.

“There are so many employers out there wondering where they are going to get work-ready entry level staff from.

“What we want to do is ensure that youngsters are getting an education that is relevant to their needs.”

The Prime Minister revealed his plans after visiting an experimental school in Brooklyn, New York, that trains students in vocational skills for IT jobs.

Under a program set up by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg three years ago, the Pathways in Technology Early College High School takes students through to year 14 instead of year 12.

The school is sponsored by computer giant IBM and the students are placed on a priority recruitment list when they graduate.

Dressed for success ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott with staff and students at P-Tech High School in Brooklyn, New York City. Picture: Josh Wilson/Office of The Prime Minister

The training model has been strongly backed by US President Barack Obama, who has visited the school.

It has inspired similar programs in a select number of schools in New York State, Chicago and Connecticut.

“I believe this is an innovative and valuable education model for us to consider in Australia,” Mr Abbott said.

As well as schools backed by the resources industry, Mr Abbott said he wanted new institutions that specialised in preparing students to work in science, engineering, maths and technology-related fields.

The plan clashes with the government’s recent budget, which slashed funding for science organisations, imposed new student loans on vocational courses and gave universities free rein to hike course fees.

Mr Abbott said he was still working out the details of how the proposed new schools would operate in Australia.

But he suggested any vocational portion would be funded by the Federal Government, with the states to pay for other parts of the curriculum in a similar model to the Australian Technical Colleges introduced by the Howard government.

Under the plan, students who stayed on at the new schools would avoid fees but those who trained at TAFE colleges or other institutions would be hit up for course costs.

“If it was done in a post-school setting there would be fees involved,” Mr Abbott said.

“If it was done in a school setting there wouldn’t be fees involved.”

More details about the plan are likely to be part of the government’s “competitiveness statement” to be released next month.