EDUCATION AND STATE – AUSTRALIA

NAPLAN – high schools not improving

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Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-Aug-15

New data shows that at a national level, the introduction of the NAPLAN test in 2008 has not resulted in any improvement in the literacy and numeracy skills of high school students. However, both Queensland and Western Australia have recorded a "statistically significant" improvement in the skills of high school students, who undertake the test in years 7 and 9. Meanwhile, there has been a nationwide improvement in the literacy and numeracy skills of primary school students.

CORPORATES
THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSESSMENT, LEARNING FIRST, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NAPLAN – high schools not improving

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 5-Aug-15

New data shows that at a national level, the introduction of the NAPLAN test in 2008 has not resulted in any improvement in the literacy and numeracy skills of high school students. However, both Queensland and Western Australia have recorded a "statistically significant" improvement in the skills of high school students, who undertake the test in years 7 and 9. Meanwhile, there has been a nationwide improvement in the literacy and numeracy skills of primary school students.

CORPORATES
THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSESSMENT, LEARNING FIRST, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Hockey tells states to lift GST income

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 5 : 15-Jul-15

The upcoming state and federal leaders’ summit will present an opportunity to pursue intergovernmental reform, according to Treasurer Joe Hockey. He will use a speech on 15 July 2015 to argue for changes to the GST and the transfer of full responsibility for schools and hospitals to the states. Hockey will also call for measures such as the abolition of inefficient state taxes and a reduction in the corporate tax and capital gains tax rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Let the states control schools and childcare

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 9-Jul-15

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has called for sweeping changes to federal-state relations at the upcoming leaders’ retreat. He says full responsibility for primary and secondary school education – as well as childcare, which is federally funded – should be transferred to state and territory governments. Weatherill also argues that vocational and tertiary education should be solely the responsibility of the federal government.

CORPORATES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Labor states reject Pyne maths plan

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Original article by Tim Dodd
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 9 : 1-Jun-15

The Australian Government will press ahead with policies aimed at lifting the number of students who study maths and science until the end of high school. It is estimated that while around 80 per cent of students study maths in year 12, many study maths only at a basic level. There is widespread opposition to a proposal by Education Minister Christopher to require all students to study either maths or science in year 12, including within the Australian Labor Party, state Labor governments and the Business Council of Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE, VICTORIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Education may stop backslide

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 11-Feb-15

Australia currently boasts the world’s 19-largest economy, but a PwC report says the nation risks falling to 29th place by 2050. PwC Australia economist Jeremy Thorpe stresses the need for greater emphasis on education and training in order to maintain Australia’s status as one of the world’s 20 largest economies. He says the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines should be a particular focus

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), GROUP OF THIRTY (G-30), GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7), NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Toughen up on teacher training, uni heads warned

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Original article by Justine Ferrari
The Australian – Page: 4 : 6-Nov-14

John Hattie, the new chair of the Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership, supports a more stringent accreditation process for the country’s 400 teaching courses. Hattie notes that there is a 30 per cent over-supply of teachers in some areas. He suggests that culling courses could result in better-quality degrees. Hattie has drafted a new direction for the Institute, which accredits courses for public school teachers. It reflects the Australian Government’s policies to improve teaching quality

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR TEACHING AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Senator offers plan to freeze HECS bills for mothers

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Original article by Matthew Knott
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 4-Nov-14

Independent Victorian senator John Madigan has proposed to freeze student debts for five years for primary caregivers. The Australian Government needs the support of independent senators for its legislation deregulating student fees. Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon said Madigan’s proposal was worth considering. Education Minister Christopher Pyne is continuing negotiations with independent senators over the proposed changes to higher education

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NICK XENOPHON GROUP, IPSOS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Hidden toll of student disability

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Original article by Justine Ferrari, Rick Morton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Nov-14

It is estimated that just five per cent of Australian school students with a disability or learning problem receive funding for support services. However, a report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggests that about 18.6 per cent of students have a disability. The report was prepared for the nation’s education ministers, who have agreed to postpone the introduction of a needs-based funding model for students with disabilities that was scheduled to begin in 2015

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION, INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Pyne slams academic over ‘abos, bogans’ rant

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 17-Oct-14

Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne has described racist and sexist remarks made by University of Sydney professor Barry Spurr as unacceptable. Spurr used derogative terms such as "Abos", "bogans", "fatsoes", "Mussies" and "Chinky-Poos" in email messages to his staff. Extracts of these emails were published on the New Matilda web site on 15 October 2014

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET