Smaller class sizes generally better, new study says
Geoff Maslen Government school-funding decisions based on larger class sizes may harm some of the most vulnerable groups.
NEWS
Students get to have their say on homework
Benjamin Preiss Teachers set homework, ask if students have done it then don't bother to look at it, students tell parliamentary inquiry.
Mike Baird to maintain push for full Gonski funding
ALEXANDRA SMITH The premier Mike Baird says he will not shy away from pressuring his federal counterparts to fund the full six years of the Gonski school funding model.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne: set universities 'free' to create a US-style system
MATTHEW KNOTT Education Minister Christopher Pyne has given his strongest sign yet the Abbott government will extend taxpayer funds to for-profit universities in a bid to cultivate a US-style college system in Australia.
Grading system for schools gets a fail from Australian Council for Education Research
Benjamin Preiss Grading students from A to E in their twice-yearly reports can fail to help them reach their academic potential, a leading education researcher says.
Enrolments boom in private training colleges
Benjamin Preiss Student enrolments are booming at Victoria's private training colleges, despite a decreasing pool of providers.
National curriculum undermined by 1 in 5 students not having the internet at home
ALEXANDRA SMITH The national school curriculum unfairly assumes all students can do their homework using a computer and the internet at home, a submission to the federal government's review warns.
Open schools help parents learn
Benjamin Preiss The bike racks are overflowing at Glen Eira College as a group of parents hugging brochures walk past.
States concerned preschool funding is at risk from July
Gareth Hutchens, Henrietta Cook The NSW and Victorian governments have written to the federal government seeking assurance that funding for early childhood education will continue beyond this year.
Multiple inquiries leave TAFE sector in doubt
Geoff Maslen Ongoing changes have pushed the system to the brink of collapse, supporters say.
Parents group offended by religion teacher's blog criticising gays
Konrad Marshall and Benjamin Preiss Volunteer religious instructor comes under fire from activist group about blog post labelled as offensive to homosexuals, minorities.
Albion North Primary students take a hands-on approach in class
Benjamin Preiss These students are going to take control of their classrooms and their teachers will let that happen.
There are doctors in the house
Andrew Bock The growing number of Aboriginal PhDs heralds a cultural shift in education.
Fierce competition for education help in scholarship season
Konrad Marshall Grade 6 has barely begun for Nysha Omar, but the 11-year-old from Wantirna South is already in the thick of exams. Maths, English and humanities exams. Multiple choice, short answer and essay exams are taking place in schools all over Melbourne on Saturday mornings.
Strong social skills are 'key to surviving bullying'
COSIMA MARRINER Bullying victimes who have strong social skills are likely to emerge unscathed, study finds.
Schools see benefits in repeal day
Geoff Maslen Cutting red and green tape should help overloaded bureaucracies.
Victorian secondary schools forced to chase high levels of private funding
Marc Moncrief, Craig Butt and Benjamin Preiss State secondary schools are increasingly raising funds themselves from fees and private sources, an analysis of My School website data has shown.
Depression rife in high schools, survey finds
JILL STARK A recent study has found one in three girls and a quarter of boys are depressed.
NAPLAN results show public versus private gulf
Craig Butt Marc Moncrief The difference in academic performance between state and independent schools grows wider as students progress into high school, a Fairfax Media analysis shows.
Features
More than ever, we need a strong VET system
Market systems are flawed when it comes to delivering fairly the quality education that successful modern economies and individuals require.
Unique solutions for special students
Teachers with right skills and support make a big difference to special needs kids.
Why free market will not fix problems with teachers and teaching
Over the past few years there has been growing concern with and focus on the quality of teachers in Australia. There have been a range of simplistic, unproven or disproved remedies promoted by various bodies to 'fix' teachers and teaching.
No room for politics in TAFE reform
Training providers that give students what they most need have thrived.
Victoria: canary down the VET coalmine
Many students are reportedly being bilked by unscrupluous RTOs.
Time to learn new script when it comes to writing
Handwriting may seem easy for many students, but that's not true for all.
Comic caper gets Pilbara pupils animated
An interactive project to engage indigenous kids' interest in school has won acclaim.
Modern-day students simply revert to type
Last week we looked at the value of penmanship; today we have an opposing view.
My say
Why Shakespeare still has a role in the curriculum
The Bard, 450 years on, still speaks to us wherever we are and in whatever time.
