Instead of secondary school education, can I provide evidence of a degree or postgraduate degree in tertiary education?
No, the pre-requisite standard in CAO 40.0 emphasises an oral proficiency in the English language rather than reading or writing proficiency or knowledge of higher learning. Oral proficiency in a language is facilitated by regular social-oral interaction which is likely to be experienced during secondary schooling. Unlike secondary school education, many tertiary courses do not guarantee such regular social-oral interactions. Furthermore, Australian tertiary education may be obtained offshore or in partnership with a university in a foreign country which may not have regular social-oral interactions in English. Therefore CASA specifically requires evidence of ongoing, or completion of, secondary school education in the English language.
