Pakistan students can earn Australia’s WACE school qualification locally

Pakistan-based students will now be able to pursue an Australian senior secondary qualification without leaving the country, following the launch of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) in Pakistan.

Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane announced the initiative on X, describing it as a pathway to universities and broader global opportunities for students in Pakistan.

According to programme information referenced in the report, WACE is a recognised senior secondary qualification administered by Western Australia’s School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA), an autonomous body operating under the Government of Western Australia.

The initiative is positioned as equivalent to national senior secondary standards and is intended to provide students in Pakistan access to admissions pathways for local and international universities. It also offers students a Western Australian Student ID (SIN) and official SCSA-issued certifications aimed at strengthening academic credentials.

The programme emphasises conceptual learning, inquiry-based study, and practical application in place of rote methods. Graduates can use the ATAR pathway for entry into Australia’s Group of Eight universities and other leading institutions globally.

The report said the initiative also opens opportunities for student exchange programmes and graduation in Western Australia, alongside merit-based support, including a government bursary valued at AU$20,000. It further noted that recognised equivalency enables students to pursue routes into Pakistani higher education by meeting requirements for major entrance examinations across disciplines such as engineering, medicine, law, management, and design and liberal arts.