Are Australians really overeducated? It depends what education is for
Olia Danilevich/ Pexels The federal government is aiming for 80% of Australian adults to have a vocational or university qualification by 2050, up from the current rate of 60%. It seems fair to question this goal, when almost half of Australian workers say they are overeducated, according to new survey results. The latest Household, Income […]
The Intergenerational Report says we need more vocational skills – but federal funding for them is set to drop
James Lauritz/Getty Images The federal government’s Intergenerational Report published this week shows Australia will need significantly more skilled workers if we want to flourish in a rapidly changing world. The report outlines how over the next four decades we will need: more nurses and carers for our ageing population more electricians and builders for our […]
Unis and schools are moving away from AI-detection software. They should stop using it altogether
Moor Studio/Getty Images Since artificial intelligence (AI) software ChatGPT was released in 2022, teachers have been looking for ways to tell when AI has been used to generate text in assessments. AI-detection software is still sold by some tech companies, such as Pangram, as a potential solution. This month, the New South Wales Education Standards […]
Why do politicians often want to change the school curriculum? What happens when you do?
Both sides of politics are saying the Australian school curriculum needs to change. The Coalition has proposed changes it says would strengthen the teaching of Western values and Australia’s civic traditions. It also wants to make Indigenous history and culture, and sustainability discrete subjects, instead of topics taught right across the curriculum. When looking at […]
Year 12 students can feel lonely after graduating. Here’s how to stay connected
Maskot/Getty Images Year 12 students are coming to the end of their formal schooling. Many are having graduation ceremonies at the moment ahead of their final exams. Over the next few months, some school leavers might find their friends are travelling overseas while others are beginning new jobs. Maybe some classmates are moving to different […]
‘Rohan called me an idiot!’ How can parents handle squabbles between kids?
Kaboompic.com/ Pexels School holidays inevitably mean more squabbles. Longer days together, less structure, and more sharing (of toys, screens, space and parental attention) all lead to children demanding you referee fights and arguments. “Alice took my Minecraft book!” “Rohan called me an idiot!” So how can we respond fairly to a fight (even if we […]
School holidays are coming. Here’s how families can keep some sort of routine
Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images School holidays mean more free time and less structure. School drop-offs and pick-ups disappear, bedtimes may shift, and families may need to organise childcare, travel or visits with extended family to fill out the days. It means everyone in the household is adjusting to changes in how each day looks. So how […]
Life just got tougher for international students under new visa rules. Why is this group being targeted?
The Australian government has announced visa changes making it harder for international students to bring their families with them while they study. There are also new rules designed to stop students from cycling through courses just to prolong their stay in Australia. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has framed these changes as part of a […]
What major tests like PISA and NAPLAN get wrong about Indigenous students
davidf/Getty Images We’ve just received the results of the latest PISA test – the international assessment of 15-year-olds’ science, maths and reading skills. In Australia, the reporting followed a script that will be familiar to anyone who keeps an eye on what happens in schools and academic results. Indigenous students were compared to non-Indigenous students […]
Should schools ban students from doing cartwheels?
Sally Anscombe/Getty Images Some Melbourne primary schools are reportedly restricting cartwheels and handstands after injuries. While some parents have described the recent move as “ridiculous”, the Victorian Principals Association says schools can sometimes issue a temporary ban “to educate children on how to do [cartwheels or other activities] safely”. This isn’t the first time schools […]