A new literacy and numeracy program for remote students has received a boost, after the federal government allocated a further $4.1 million to the initiative. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham made the funding announcement after the release of ...
More »Industry+Reform
Expert suggests school STEM push has failed
Is there a crisis in Australian science and mathematics education? UNE and QUT academics posed this question in 2014, in their 45-page thesis, The Continuing Decline Of Science And Mathematics Enrolments In Australian High Schools. They definitively answered 'yes'. Three years ...
More »Rank hypocrisy: is it time to reassess how the ATAR is used in tertiary education?
The current policy climate in teacher education in Australia has a focus on accountability for outcomes as judged by a decreasing trend of primary and secondary student performance on a range of national (NAPLAN) and international rankings (Program for Internal ...
More »The case against automated NAPLAN marking
Concern surrounds a move towards the automated marking of NAPLAN English exams. The Independent Education Union Australia this week released a statement opposing the proposal, which it says will undermine teacher professionalism, promote poor practice, and induce worry in parents. ...
More »Let kids be kids?
Too many people see learning and play as opposites. Quantum Physics for Babies. Some find it hard to believe, but it is indeed a real book, and other books which introduce abstract scientific concepts to young minds have followed. It’s ...
More »Mandatory testing for Year 1 students
The Federal government has released a landmark report which it says indicates the need for Year 1 students to undertake mandatory literacy and numeracy tests. Responding to the report, Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said testing Year 1 ...
More »VR Gets real
No longer just for games, virtual reality is altering our views on learning. Virtual reality (VR) is set to change the teaching landscape in Australia. It will be the tipping point for innovation in education. VR can revolutionise education through ...
More »Victoria to introduce state uniform policy for girls
Following Western Australia's lead, Victoria will make it mandatory for public schools to offer uniform alternatives for girls. The move comes after several campaigns by residents, and a push to give school girls the option to trade the traditional dress or skirt ...
More »TFA program responds to criticism
A recent evaluation report into the Teach for Australian (TFA) program has been met with criticism by lobby group Save Our Schools (SOS). SOS said in an education policy brief that the teacher training pathway was failing in its mission ...
More »Indigenous scholar to help ‘close the gap’ from afar
David Unaipon - the Indigenous man on the Australian $50 note - would be proud. Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney is about to give an inaugural lecture at King’s College London (KCL) bearing his name. Rigney, in addition to being a UniSA education ...
More »