EDUCATION NEWS 22/07 – 25/07 [1] To save us from the fast sell, financial literacy needs a home Salvatore Ferraro 22 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page B012 To save us from the fast sell, financial literacy needs a home Salvatore Ferraro Report URL fsi.gov.au/publications/interim-report/ [2] Childcare plan: call to pay grandparents By Miki Perkins 22 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page A001 Childcare plan: call to pay grandparents By Miki Perkins Report URL pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/138383/childcare-draft.pdf [3] Teachers sue over having to lease laptops Jewel Topsfield, Benjamin Preiss 22 July 2014 The Age - Page 12 in News Section. The Victorian Education department could be forced to repay millions of dollars to teachers who leased laptops under a controversial program. The Australian Education Union is suing the department in the Federal Court for ‘‘loss and damages’’. [4] Teaching riddled with ‘bad practices’ JUSTINE FERRARI, NATIONAL EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT 22 July 2014 The Australian - Page 3 in TheNation Section. SENIOR education professors have characterised much of the teaching that occurs daily in classrooms as “malpractice”, based on a teacher’s own experience and theories rather than the evidence of the most effective methods. In a submission to the federal government’s review of teacher education, Southern Cross University professors David Lynch and Richard Smith argue teacher education is a “data-free zone” with universities conducting little or no evaluation of how well their graduates teach after a four-year degree and a lack of professional consensus on effective practice. [5] BETTER TEACHERS, HIGHER MARKS JUDITH SLOAN, Contributing economics editor 22 July 2014 The Australian - Page 14 in Commentary Section. Lower university entry scores are not the answer IT sounds quite new age — an all-girls’ school with an all-female staff, save for the physics teacher. (Sorry, Mr Roberts.) Now admittedly I attended school several eons ago, but it is interesting to ¬reflect on the quality of my female teachers. [6] Access to care the ‘biggest issue’ for mums RICK MORTON, SOCIAL AFFAIRS WRITER 22 July 2014 The Australian - Page 2 in TheNation Section. LOUISE Bassett would have gone back to work much sooner after she had her son Benedict but instead had to wait 14 months for a one-day-a-week placement in Canberra . The 41-year-old public service manager now uses a motley arrangement of childcare options for her four-year-old just so she and husband Robert Gotts, 59, can maintain their careers. [7] Schools feeling timetable squeeze TIM WILLIAMS EDUCATION REPORTER 22 July 2014 The Advertiser - Page 3 in News Section. SCHOOL sports carnivals, excursions and religious classes are at risk of being squeezed out of timetables as the national curriculum grows, the state’s Catholic school chief says. Catholic Education SA director Dr Paul Sharkey, who was this week appointed to the board of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, also says NAPLAN test results should be removed from the MySchool website and shared in school community meetings. [8] Tertiary subjects for gifted students 22 July 2014 Herald-Sun - Page 36 in Lifestyle Section. Approved Higher Education studies in schools The VCAA provides for very able students to have an opportunity to undertake an approved Higher Education study as part of the VCE. Such studies are recognised as Higher Education studies contributing to completion of the VCE. Higher Education studies include first year university studies and advanced standing TAFE courses recognised by the VCAA and made available to VCE students who are very able academically and have the endorsement of their school principal. [9] WA Government defends education ads Anna Vidot 21 July 2014 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Transcripts The West Australian Government is being criticised for spending almost $2 million to explain an overhaul of the states education system. From next year, West Australian children will begin high school one year earlier, and a new funding model will be introduced. The Liberal Government says theres still confusion about the changes so the information campaign is money well spent. But Labor says the ads are a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money by a government that earlier slashed its education budget. MARK COLVIN: The West Australian Government is under fire for spending almost $2 million to advertise an overhaul of the states education system. [10] Why we dont have the worlds best, or most respected, teachers Lawrence Ingvarson, Principal Research Fellow at Australian Council for Educational Research 20 July 2014 The Conversation Barely a day goes by when people aren’t bemoaning the state of teacher education in Australia . Australian students results are declining, entry requirements for teachers aren’t high enough, teaching courses don’t focus on the right things. So whose fault is it? And how do we rectify the situation? It’s true that teacher education providers select too many students who would never have gained entry to teacher education in the past, but this is merely a symptom of a deeper problem. 23/07/14 [1] Catholic teachers stop work 23 July 2014 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Catholic schools across the western region will be affected by industrial action by teachers and other staff today. Members of the Independent Education Union are taking part in the half-day strike because they say a proposed Enterprise Agreement would strip away basic conditions about 200 teachers and staff are expected to take part. [2] Private educators move in on TAFE institutes old territory Stewart Oldfield 23 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page B013 Private educators move in on TAFE institutes old territory Stewart Oldfield [3] One in three children say they have been bullied at school Miki Perkins Social Affairs Reporter 23 July 2014 The Age - Page 5 in News Section. If the thought of your child being bullied at school breaks your heart, then consider this - you might not even notice. Analysis of a study of more than 4000 children has found parents and teachers often do not realise children are being bullied. For more than half the children who said they had been bullied, their parents were either not aware or did not consider the actions were bullying, research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows. Report URL aifs.gov.au/cfca/focuson/bullying.html [4] Abbott dismisses childcare funding advice Judith Ireland With Miki Perkins 23 July 2014 The Age - Page 6 in News Section. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed a Productivity Commission suggestion that funds be redirected away from his signature paid parental leave scheme and into childcare services, arguing the two are very separate issues. But the minister responsible for childcare, Sussan Ley, appears open to the idea of federal government-supported nannies if they were employed within the existing regulated system. The Assistant Education Minister said she wanted to solve the crisis of finding childcare for shift workers, who might work beyond the time that childcare centres are open. Report URL pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/childcare/draft [5] Union wants teachers to get masters Benjamin Preiss 23 July 2014 The Age - Page 6 in News Section. All aspiring teachers should complete five-year courses, such as masters degrees, before they can qualify to work in the classroom, the national education union says. In a submission to the federal review into teacher training, the Australian Education Union has also called on the government to endorse graduate-entry programs with at least two years of full-time study. [6] Clinton hits town to hand Torrens unbeatable gift JULIE HARE, ANDREW TROUNSON 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 26 in HigherEducation Section. ADELAIDE will be under a charm offensive this week and it won’t be Christopher Pyne. On Thursday, Bill Clinton will be in town to officially launch Torrens University in his capacity as chairman of Laureate Internat¬ional Universities network. [7] Smarter thinking a sign of survival ANDREW HARVEY 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 29 in HigherEducation Section. NEW data reveals a moderate correlation between enrolment growth and student attrition, but no national crisis. Since 2008, the commencing bachelor student cohort has grown 38 per cent while the attrition rate has risen from 17.9 per cent to 19.5 per cent. But this general trend masks large variations between institutions. [8] It’s buyer beware in private fee-for-all JULIE HARE 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 25 in HigherEducation Section. FOR $22,000, students can enrol in a diploma of web design and the college will throw in a free computer. The same course can be done down the road at a public TAFE for just $4490. Experts say that the availability of government-guaranteed ¬income-contingent student loans makes price gouging easy and colleges are praying on unsuspecting teenagers without the sophistication to understand the nature of government loans. [9] Cloud of bias over graduates surveyed ANDREW TROUNSON 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 27 in HigherEducation Section. A SURVEY of how satisfied employers are with graduates has given a strong endorsement for universities, but it may be too good to be true. The pilot by the University of Sydney ?s Business School is the first step towards the development of a sector-wide employer survey to form part of the Abbott government?s new Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching, which are intended to help students make informed choices when selecting their course. Report URL education.gov.au/employer-satisfaction-survey [10] Retired TAFE chief blasts reform ‘bungle’ JOHN ROSS 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 27 in HigherEducation Section. SKILLS reform in Australia is an “absolute shemozzle” and is jeopardising a world-class vocational education and training system, says the recently retired chief executive of TAFE South Australia. Jeff Gunningham told a Melbourne forum that bureaucratic bungling and an obsession with the bottom line was degrading training and threatening the existence of public colleges. [11] Deregulation means students on the move JULIE HARE 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 25 in HigherEducation Section. DROP-OUT rates are likely to esc¬alate in a deregulated system because of higher student mobility rather than failures in institutional support. And lower-status universities increasingly will become “feeder institutions” as aspirational students use them as stepping stones to higher-status metropolitan campuses. Richard James, a professor of higher education at the University of Melbourne , said students would see higher education as a journey rather than a destination. [12] Compulsory maths study lifts dropouts JOHN ROSS 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 28 in HigherEducation Section. FORCING young students to study maths and science leads some to leave school early without producing any significant benefits at university level, according to US researchers. The Missouri study, which claims to be the first of its kind, could force a rethink of demands for science and particularly maths to be mandated at secondary school. [13] Unis face $850m hit over fees ANDREW TROUNSON 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 25 in HigherEducation Section. UNIVERSITIES would have to wear a prohibitive $850 million cost if they insulated incoming 2015 students from looming higher fees, peak group Universities Australia has warned. Chief executive Belinda Robinson said few universities, if any, would be able to afford to give students certainty on the cost of their degrees by protecting next year’s cohort from the government’s changes, the final details of which remain uncertain given the prospect of a hostile Senate blocking the legislation. She said universities were in a tough position ahead of the student recruitment season starting next month because they could not tell students what their degrees would cost. [14] OUA says new model mix just the ticket as space invaders force rethink ANDREW TROUNSON 23 July 2014 The Australian - Page 27 in HigherEducation Section. OPEN Universities Australia has suffered a steep fall in student enrolments as it is hammered by competition in the online space it once had to itself. Following enrolment spikes of 28 per cent and 25 per cent in 2010 and 2011, the numbers in 2013 dropped nearly 17 per cent to 49,055 students. [15] Schools to share outside experts EXCLUSIVE Tanya Chilcott 23 July 2014 Courier Mail - Page 3 in News Section. EVERY state school will be rated under a new education plan which will see outside consultants brought in to turn struggling schools around. A new State Government unit will undertake annual performance assessments of all of its schools and place them into three categories. [16] Good results for early learning, but the devil is in the detail Susan Krieg, Associate Professor at Flinders University 22 July 2014 The Conversation The recommendations of the Productivity Commission into Childcare and Early Learning[pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/childcare] appear to be a win for early childhood learning. However, as with many reports such as this, the devil is in the detail. One has to question how easy the recommendations will be to implement. On a positive note, the report begins with a statement that recognises the importance of early childhood education and care. This is too often overlooked, which is surprising given the wealth of evidence regarding the benefits[heckmanequation.org/content/resource/invest-early-childhood-development-reduce-deficits-strengthen-economy] of quality early learning. It is important to remember that this is the draft phase and there is still room for improvement and feedback, before final decisions are made in October. Report URL pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/childcare/draft 24/07/14 1] Literacy skills get a boost BLAIR RICHARDS 24 July 2014 Hobart Mercury - Page 4 in News Section. PARENTS who talk and read to their children could improve their performance in the classroom, says one of Tasmania ’s new literacy specialists. This week 25 specialist literacy and numeracy teachers began work in Tasmanians schools to address the state’s poor results in key areas of learning. [2] GPs urged to check kids health By Natasha Boddy 24 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page A002 GPs urged to check kids health By Natasha Boddy. One in five children is developmentally vulnerable when they start school, and a pilot study is looking at ways in which GPs can help boost the uptake of Healthy Kids Checks. More than a fifth of children are arriving at school not really prepared for the rigours of school life, Melbourne GP and PhD student Karyn Alexander told the Primary Health Care Research Conference in Canberra on Wednesday. [3] Uni reforms risk disaster By The Canberra Times 24 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page B001 Uni reforms risk disaster The planned deregulation of university fees and other changes could be catastrophic for tertiary education. Professor Ian Young recently advocated university fee deregulation in The Canberra Times, but in the spirit of encouraging debate on this important issue I want to present a completely different view. After all, a debate is what a civilised city such as Canberra should expect from the leaders of its two universities. The whole reform package from the budget spells disaster for students and the country. It is true some aspects are more palatable than others, but the changes are not being presented to us as a menu from which we can choose. They come as a package with minimal give and take. We cannot get away from the fact that 20 per cent is being removed from government funding for university places. [4] Girls on march to freedom By The Canberra Times 24 July 2014 Canberra Times - Page B004 Girls on march to freedom A worldwide vigil could lead to the great civil rights movement of this generation, writes GORDON BROWN. Glory, Rejoice and Comfort. Three schoolgirls with unforgettable names. Three schoolgirls whose contribution to propelling girls rights onto the world agenda may yet rival what Rosa Parks achieved for US civil rights a half-century ago. One hundred days after Boko Harams abduction of Glory Dama, Rejoice Sanki, Comfort Amos and more than 200 other teenage girls from the Chibok school in north- eastern Nigeria , their plight is inspiring a one-day worldwide vigil. On Wednesday, groups fighting for girls rights across the globe will come together to act as one, unveiling for the first time what could become the great civil rights movement of this generation. [5] Students may pay for research, says Schmidt JULIE HARE 24 July 2014 The Australian - Page 5 in TheNation Section. THE deregulation of university fees makes it even more critical the federal government fully fund research activities so students don’t find themselves paying for services they do not use, says Australia ’s most recent Nobel laureate. And recent elevations in the quality of university research are at risk as the lack of a national strategic plan for science, and miserly incentives for rewarding excellence, take their toll. [6] Push for more class time for trainee teachers JUSTINE FERRARI, NATIONAL EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT 24 July 2014 The Australian - Page 8 in TheNation Section. PRIVATE school principals have called for the introduction of bonded scholarships for teaching and the introduction of a medical-style internship program to train teachers in a network of demonstration schools. [7] OP review: Queensland high school education review to urge dropping OP scores for tertiary entrance By Louisa Rebgetz and staff 23 July 2014 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News A review of Queensland high school assessment methods is set to recommend an overhaul of the university entrance score, known as the OP. The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is conducting an independent review of state senior assessments and the tertiary entrance system, which was due to be completed by the end of July. [8] Regional students will be poorly served if universities compete solely on price Peter Lee, Vice-Chancellor at Southern Cross University 23 July 2014 The Conversation At one level, it is heartening that there is so much attention placed on regional universities in all the heat of debate surrounding the deregulation of higher education. We have ministerial assurances[abc.net.au/news/2014-07-02/pyne-scu/5566082] that we will “flourish” under the new regime, or that we could become specialist teaching-only institutions, such as they have in the US , thereby combatting, in the words of Professor Warren Bebbington[blogs.adelaide.edu.au/vco/], the “stultifying sameness” pervading the sector. [9] QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES HUGE FUNDING FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION 23 July 2014 Australian Government News BRISBANE, Queensland, July 23 -- The Hon. Campbell Newman, Premier, and the Hon. John-Paul Langbroek, Minister for Education, Training and Employment, issued the following media statement: State school students will have access to new music instruments and more music teachers after the Queensland Government announced more than $2.46 million in funding for secondary school music education. [10] Science in schools the way to growth Su-Lin Tan 23 July 2014 The Australian Financial Review - Page 41 in News Section. Education Tomorrows leaders need to be taught the skills they will need today, writes Su-Lin Tan. Business leaders have warned that the slide in children studying maths and science means Australia will get left behind. 25/07/14 Private schools want bus changes TIM WILLIAMS 25 July 2014 The Advertiser - Page 40 in News Section. PRIVATE schools want their students to have guaranteed access to public school buses as the State Government embarks on its first review in almost a decade. The Association of Independent Schools of SA says parents’ choice of schools in country areas is restricted by rules that prioritise access for public students. [2] NSW light rail: Labor supports subsidised travel for school students By Avani Dias 24 July 2014 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News The New South Wales Opposition is calling on the Government to provide subsidised travel for school students on the inner west light rail. Opposition Leader John Robertson has visited the Waratah Mills Light Rail Station in Dulwich Hill and said he could not understand the Governments delay. [3] RDA ORANA DEVELOPS WORK INSPIRATION PROGRAMME FOR REGIONAL NEW SOUTH WALES 24 July 2014 Australian Government News CANBERRA, ACT, July 24 -- Regional Development Australia issued the following News Release: RDA Orana (NSW) is partnering with The Smith Family and the NSW Department of Education and Communities to develop the Work Inspiration Programme for regional New South Wales .
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 04:11:53 +0000
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