Education
Kakenya's dream: She traded parts of her body for an education
130 million girls do not attend school, and this year about 12 million will likely be pulled out of school before puberty to enter an early marriage.
- by Julie Power
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Teaching
Schools must earn the freedom to make decisions, says Premier
Schools will have to earn the freedom to make their own decisions by meeting targets after the government admitted it surrendered power to intervene in under-performing schools.
- by Jordan Baker
University
Coronavirus puts heat on uni staff to quickly produce online courses
Casuals have been cut and full-time staff have rushed to produce online content as the coronavirus crisis batters Australia's tertiary education sector.
- by Anna Patty
Schools
'Back to where I belong': the principals leading their old schools
Nicole Jones has returned to her old primary school thirty years later - as principal.
- by Kristina Zhou
University
Sydney University halts spending to manage $200 million shortfall due to coronavirus
The university will pause capital spending and on non-essential projects, recruitment, and unnecessary international travel. It will also review all existing and new contractor and consultant roles.
- by Jordan Baker and Anna Patty
Schools
Minister promises she won't punish schools in pursuit of 'balance' in the classroom
The minister flagged reforms that would give the NSW Department of Education greater power to intervene when school results were poor.
- by Jordan Baker
Schools
Handwriting fluency in kindergarten linked to better reading abilities
The findings of a new study have prompted researchers to urge caution about relying too heavily on technology in the classroom.
- by Jordan Baker
University
University closures on the table in response to potential coronavirus outbreaks
One of Australia's largest universities is preparing for a full or partial closure of its campus if a major coronavirus outbreak occurs in Sydney.
- by Anna Patty
Exclusive
Private schools
Wide discretion for private schools to spend special $1.2 billion fund
The government has quietly released details about the "choice and affordability fund", previously labelled a "slush fund" by Labor.
- by Fergus Hunter
Schools
NSW schools told to halt international travel plans amid coronavirus outbreak
An email sent to principals said that if schools had an international excursion planned for term one, they should cancel or reschedule the trip.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Ramsay Centre
Philosophical pub brawling is ancient history as Ramsay course begins
Socrates questioned Athenians about their views until they felt 'befuddled'. Daniel Hutto will do the same with 30 scholars of Western civilisation.
- by Jordan Baker
Private schools
Non-government schools set for multibillion-dollar funding boost
Non-government schools are set for a $3.4 billion boost over the next 10 years as the Morrison government prepares to rewrite funding rules for the Catholic and independent sectors.
- by Adam Carey
Gender equality
Two women and 80 men in science courses. Kat is out to change that
Astrophysicist Kat Ross has combed through each dot point of the NSW senior science syllabuses and added the name of a female scientist where relevant.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Opinion
Teaching
How we can build the collaboration needed between 'typical' and 'special education' teachers
A typical teacher completes just one unit in "inclusive education" during undergraduate study. The profession should join forces to learn from each other.
- by Kathleen Tait
National
Early intervention the key for children with profound hearing loss
Lauren Soutar was born with no hearing in her left ear, and lost hearing in her right ear at age five, but you probably wouldn’t know it from speaking with her.
- by Adam Carey
Exclusive
Primary school
Sydney hotspots where families are choosing private school early
Parents on the north shore and in the eastern suburbs and inner west are most likely to send their children to private school in year 5.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Sarah Mitchell
Principals 'shocked and distressed' by education minister's bid for centralised control
Principals have hit back at Education Minister Sarah Mitchell's plan to curb school autonomy, describing her comments as "unfair".
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons and Jordan Baker
Exclusive
Private schools
Historical Newington College exchange program arranged by US child molester
The American exchange was arranged by a Los Angeles teacher later arrested for child molestation, and took place during the tenure of a Newington deputy headmaster accused of child sex abuse.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
High school
'Unhappy' minister to curtail school principals' freedom
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says NSW gave school principals too much freedom and left the department without the power it needed to improve the system.
- by Jordan Baker
Schools
'Ad-hoc decisions', overloaded principals: where NSW education reforms went wrong
Many in the education sector believe the Local Schools Local Decisions reforms gave schools too much freedom.
- by Jordan Baker
Education
'Five ANUs, two UNSWs': Unis not ready for looming Costello baby boom
The babies born thanks to the mid-2000s baby bonus scheme are growing up and set to put significant pressure on Australia's university system.
- by Fergus Hunter
Exclusive
Private schools
Newington College orders review after death of teacher accused of child sex abuse
Newington College has said it is deeply ashamed of the criminal behaviour of some of its former staff members after several students reported allegations of sexual abuse this week following the death of a former junior school deputy headmaster.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Melbourne
Australian students failing science: Can you answer these year 6 questions?
Half of all Australian year 10 students do not meet the benchmark for scientific literacy, while year 6 students are only just scraping by. Take the NAPLAN science quiz.
- by Adam Carey
University
Universities sticking with international students despite coronavirus
Facing major financial losses, universities are looking to be more prepared to future shocks but won't temper their reliance on international students.
- by Fergus Hunter
Private schools
School removes statue resembling teacher after abuse claims
The bronze figure was cast in the likeness of celebrated former staff member Desmond Lyle 'Jim' Graham, who former students say inflicted physical and sexual abuse upon pupils.
- by Angus Thompson
Schools
Former Newington teacher reported over 'inappropriate behaviour' following death
Headmaster Michael Parker on Sunday apologised to former students after several people alleged incidents of inappropriate behaviour by former teacher Laurie Ellicott, who died last week.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
University
Ramsay Centre signs final university to Western civilisation course
After years of controversy, the Ramsay Centre has signed a deal with a third and final university to offer a Western civilisation degree.
- by Jordan Baker
Opinion
Opinion
More to sex education than condoms on bananas
It is easy to blame parents when their teenage sons are are caught making derogatory remarks about women, or taking photographs up girls' skirts. But it's not that simple.
- by Katrina Marson
Indigenous
They can act, write and direct: Sydney school students make feature-length film
The film Skin, which tells the story of the Stolen Generations through a central character named Rosie, was made over two years and premiered on Friday night.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Opinion
Opinion
Teachers need better resources to plan great lessons
Imagine if an orchestra conductor had to be in concert six hours a day and also write new music every morning. It is no wonder teachers feel overwhelmed.
- by Katie Roberts-Hull
Exclusive
High school
Year 5 is the new year 7 for enrolling at a private school
The trend, which has been noted by principals and families at public schools, is driven by parents' fear of missing out.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Exclusive
NSW
School declined public appeal on sex abuse claims to protect image
A former teacher at The Armidale School has been charged with child sexual abuse offences almost six years after the administration declined to launch a public "fishing expedition" for abuse survivors.
- by Angus Thompson
Education
School students allowed to return as Australians trapped in China plead for help
Government loosens travel bans on high-school students as Australians trapped in Hubei call for assistance.
- by Shane Wright, Eryk Bagshaw and Laura Chung
Children's Health
Play program puts children in touch with nature
Immersing children in unstructured free play in nature like the bush, green spaces and gardens has a myriad of benefits, according to a world-first Australian review of studies into nature play.
- by Miki Perkins
China
Universities put major construction projects on ice amid coronavirus financial blow
The higher education sector is grappling with the financial impact of the coronavirus travel ban.
- by Fergus Hunter
University
Government relaxes travel ban for some students from China
Senior high school students will now be allowed to fly to Australia from China, after the federal government relaxed a travel ban aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
- by Goya Dmytryshchak
Opinion
China
The ego trip behind the push to lift ban on Chinese students
Australian universities have raced to the top of a prestigious global ranking even as they complain about cuts to research funding. Now the funding source is under threat.
- by Salvatore Babones
China
Relaxation of travel ban looms for students following official health advice
The country's chief health officers have advised the government there is a case to ease the ban subject to certain conditions.
- by Fergus Hunter
Exclusive
Schools
'Get rid of the statue': Private school erases web pages amid abuse claims
Former students of The Armidale School say late teacher Desmond Lyle ‘Jim’ Graham physically abused many boys and sexually abused one.
- by Angus Thompson
Education
Boost incentives for rural teachers, say education sector leaders
Paying 30 per cent more to a maths teacher in Brewarrina than Bellevue Hill was one suggestion at a Herald education summit to fix the rural teacher crisis.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos, Pallavi Singhal and Fergus Hunter
Exclusive
China
Universities scramble for flights for Chinese students should travel ban end
Qantas could deploy special flights to help retrieve stranded Chinese students as the window narrows for them to arrive in time for semester one.
- by Fergus Hunter and Patrick Hatch
SMH schools summit
Minister's push to move NAPLAN, get results faster
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has said she will "keep pushing" for changes to NAPLAN including making the tests earlier in the year, spreading them over multiple weeks and getting results back much faster.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos and Pallavi Singhal
SMH schools summit
Selective schools and gifted programs akin to elite sporting opportunities
A principal research officer at the Department of Education said cultural issues such as tall poppy syndrome have "long been a challenge" for gifted education.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Schools
Gladys Berejiklian says students should learn more foreign languages
The Premier said increased language education was something "we need to look at as a nation" subject to the findings of a sweeping review of the NSW curriculum.
- by Fergus Hunter
Schools
NSW curriculum review aims to halt Australian students' 'significant' decline in results
In the early 2000s, students in NSW were performing among the highest in the world in international test results, but have since been falling behind year after year at an "unmatched" rate.
- by Pallavi Singhal
Exclusive
SMH schools summit
Teaching students struggling to finish their degrees, report says
The number of students accepted into education degrees with ATARs lower than 50 has grown five fold over the past decade, a new report has found.
- by Jordan Baker
Editorial
Editorial
Support teachers to improve school outcomes
Gladys Berejiklian is looking for an answer to the bad results in the PISA schools survey but she should not scapegoat teachers.
- The Herald's View
SMH schools summit
School technology bans won't solve online safety fears: commissioner
The eSafety commissioner will release a toolkit to help schools have difficult but age-appropriate conversations with school-aged children, and have them often.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
University
Universities have $12 billion war chest to confront coronavirus crisis
The 10 universities that account for the vast majority of Chinese students have established serious cash reserves.
- by Fergus Hunter
Education
Staggered start for students at Sydney's new high-rise high school
Timetabling is one of many quirks at Arthur Phillip High School, which opened this month and is still dividing experts over its open-planned classrooms and co-teaching.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos