NCEA reform: how will schools decide who takes an academic or vocational path?
The government wants secondary schools to play a bigger role in preparing students for the working world by building vocational education and training (VET) into the curriculum. But a paradigm shift will be required for that to succeed – especially from industry. The structural reform to school-based qualifications was proposed in the NCEA consultation document […]
Universities have lost their way, but cost-cutting and consultants are not the answer
Last week in Sydney, we saw a melodrama acted out that could stand in for the state of Australian universities more generally. Inside Sydney’s swish Fullerton Hotel, a glittering cast of vice-chancellors, politicians, public servants, journalists, and consultants deliberated at a higher education summit, sponsored by the Australian Financial Review and consultancy Nous Group. Teaching-only […]
Australia will get a register to track educators and CCTV trial in centres – we still need more to keep kids safe
This year Australia has seen a horrific string of reports and allegations about abuse and neglect in childcare centres. Families are desperate to ensure their kids are safe and political leaders have been rushing to respond. Last month, federal parliament passed legislation to strip funding from centres not meeting safety and quality standards. Earlier this […]
The social media ban is coming, whether families like it or not: 5 ways to prepare kids and teens
Helena Lopes/Pexels , CC BY In less than four months, world-first legislation will ban Australian under-16s from certain social media platforms. Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit and YouTube will all be off limits for children and teens. It’s still not clear exactly how the restrictions will be implemented. But the federal government says social […]
Indigenous students want to finish Year 12. They need equal support and resources from schools to do this
Statistics showing Indigenous school students in a negative light are regularly reported in the Australian media and policy debates. We often hear how Indigenous students “trail” their non-Indigenous peers in NAPLAN results and how there are persistent “gaps” when it comes to finishing high school. These messages unfortunately reflect a common bias against Indigenous Australians […]
‘Several teachers didn’t believe in ADHD’: families speak about how students with disability are bullied and excluded
Thurtell/Getty Images One student was routinely punished for her “ADHD behaviours” at school, another was locked in a classroom, while another was sent home 85 times in a single year. These are just some of the responses we had in a new survey of parents and caregivers about their disabled children’s experiences in Australian schools. […]
Feeding kids can be a daily battle. But you wouldn’t know it looking at Instagram
SolStock/Getty Images Many families find feeding children a constant challenge. A favourite food is suddenly refused, someone is grumpy after a long day, siblings fight at the table. But if parents and caregivers are turning to social media for advice, it may do more harm than good. Because here, feeding kids looks downright easy. Our […]
Often parents and schools disagree about whether something is ‘bullying’: what happens next?
Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock Bullying in schools can can have a devastating impact on victims. Research shows it can lead to reduced academic performance depression, anxiety and even suicidal behaviour. So, preventing and reducing bullying is an urgent priority for governments as well as families and schools. However, a common obstacle to addressing bullying is […]
The Cambridge factor: how influential NZ schools hastened the demise of NCEA
As New Zealanders digest the news about government plans to scrap NCEA from 2028, we should also consider the role influential and prestigious schools had on its demise. Since NCEA was introduced between 2002 and 2004, these prominent schools have increasingly opted for alternative assessment systems. This effectively undermined trust in the official assessment system. […]
Big changes to NCEA and polytechs must deliver the skills NZ urgently needs
Getty Images This week’s major overhaul of the NCEA qualification system isn’t just about measuring academic achievement at secondary school. The government’s plans also include “working with industry to develop better vocational pathways” into the workforce. The policy dovetails with big changes to the country’s polytechnic system, which have also been promoted as improving vocational […]