Labor’s new bill would cut HELP loans by 20%. But it also risks locking some graduates into a ‘debt treadmill’
The Albanese government’s 20% cut to student debt is the first bill introduced to the new federal parliament. It is clever politics. In the government’s first term, the 3 million Australians with a student debt turned high indexation of their loan balances into a major issue. The proposed 20% cut flipped a political negative into […]
The end of open-plan classrooms: how school design reflects changing ideas in education
skynesher/Getty Imaged The end of open-plan classrooms in New Zealand, recently announced by Education Minister Erica Stanford, marks yet another swing of the pendulum in school design. Depending on who you ask, these classrooms were an opportunity to foster collaboration and flexibility or an exercise in organised chaos. So-called “modern learning environments” – characterised by […]
Does play belong in primary school? New research suggests teachers are not sure
Jon Challicom/ Getty Images Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood education in Australia. We know children learn about the world through play and it helps them build creativity and independence. There is also broad agreement among early childhood educators and policymakers about the importance of play from birth to five […]
AI is now part of our world. Uni graduates should know how to use it responsibly
MTStock Studio/ Getty Images Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an everyday part of lives. Many of us use it without even realising, whether it be writing emails, finding a new TV show or managing smart devices in our homes. It is also increasingly used in many professional contexts – from helping with recruitment to supporting […]
AI is driving down the price of knowledge – universities have to rethink what they offer
For a long time, universities worked off a simple idea: knowledge was scarce. You paid for tuition, showed up to lectures, completed assignments and eventually earned a credential. That process did two things: it gave you access to knowledge that was hard to find elsewhere, and it signalled to employers you had invested time and […]
How can you keep kids off screens during the winter holidays?
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Children’s Games, 1560. ©KHM-Museumsverband, CC BY-NC The winter school holidays can be a tricky time for families. Parents are often juggling work and chilly conditions make it easy for kids to end up on the couch with multiple devices. What other activities can you try? And how can you encourage the […]
‘The customer is always right’: why some uni teachers give higher grades than students deserve
Pixels Effect/ Getty Images Grade inflation happens when teachers knowingly give a student a mark higher than deserved. It can also happen indirectly, when the level of difficulty of a course is deliberately lowered so students achieve higher grades. The practice threatens to undermine the quality of a university degree and the prestige of higher […]
How many serious incidents are happening in Australian childcare centres? We don’t really know
Catherine Delahaye/ Getty Images This week, a Melbourne childcare worker was charged over alleged sexual abuse of young children in his care. Families are justifiably appalled and furious – with 1,200 children urged to be tested for a sexually transmitted infection. This is the latest in a string of serious safety concerns this year alone, […]
Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres. Stronger rules would make everyone feel safer
Getty Images Horrific allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare centres across Melbourne have put the role of men in early childhood education back in the spotlight. Coming after other major media reports of child mistreatment in care, many parents are feeling very anxious about the safety of their children. Some may be deeply suspicious […]
What are working with children checks? Why aren’t they keeping kids safe at daycare?
Catherine Falls Commercial/ Getty Images Disturbing allegations have emerged about a Melbourne childcare worker, who has been charged with more than 70 offences, including sexual assault and producing child abuse material. Health authorities have urged about 1,200 children to get screening for potential infection. The man who has been charged, Joshua Dale Brown, had a […]