Education
When normal school is not enough: Aussie kids sign up to new online high
Australia is the second-biggest market in the world for a new online high school that offers global qualifications and accelerated learning.
- by Jordan Baker
Latest
Parents warned remote learning may last longer than a week
Families are bracing for a return to remote lessons as the Premier warns online learning may last longer than the four days she initially predicted.
- by Jordan Baker
Opinion
Parents need to know facts before sending children to school
When frazzled parents contemplate juggling work while caring for their children, the scales often tip in favour of sending their children to school. But it is not safe to do so.
- by Karen Armstrong
Call to put First Nations educators in every primary school
A group of First Nations organisations hope their push for a national program will tackle racism, foster true reconciliation and bridge the knowledge gap on Indigenous history.
- by Anna Prytz
‘I’m trying to remain hopeful’: Deja vu for HSC students about to start their final term
Students are frustrated that history could now repeat itself, but hoping it will all work out.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
Parents demand vaccination for teachers as schools face months of disruption
Parents want teachers to have easier access to vaccinations as students face months of disruption, with the Catholic school sector offering its schools as vaccination hubs.
- by Jordan Baker
Exclusive
HSC trial exams delayed by two weeks for more than 500 schools
The Catholic Secondary Schools Association, which provides HSC trial exams to more than 500 NSW schools, has delayed this year’s trial exams by two weeks
- by Jordan Baker
Opinion
The think-tanks at WA’s most prestigious universities are being eroded
A proposal aims to drastically reduce the number of people working on international affairs and the politics and societies of the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, the area has become more important than ever.
- by Mark Beeson
Opinion
In the US, we teachers went to the front of the vaccination queue. Not here
A former school principal asks: Why are teachers sent to the back of the line?
- by Tracey Schreier
NSW teachers in ‘state of paralysis’ after cyber attack
Educators will be unable to access their calendars, remote learning resources and emails until the education department restores its systems, which could take until next week.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Maths experts reaffirm support for curriculum changes as leading group sounds alarm
A split has emerged among leading maths organisations, with one group sounding the alarm over proposed changes to the national maths curriculum.
- by Lisa Visentin and Anna Prytz
NSW Education Department hit by cyber attack hours after remote learning announcement
The attack has plunged the department’s systems into darkness for 21 hours, leaving teachers and principals without access to their email, coronavirus guidelines or online learning materials.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Teachers and students to mask up, while concerns flare about HSC
For the first time in NSW masks will be common in schools amid concern about the contagious Delta variant, while concerns flare about the HSC
- by Jordan Baker
Cranbrook delays term three start to avoid remote learning
Headmaster Nicholas Sampson said his students would instead return on Monday, July 19, and have their next school holidays cut short to make up for the four lost teaching days.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Indigenous educators back ‘truth-telling’ in national curriculum
More than 150 indigenous teachers, principals and academics have rejected claims that propose changes will “Indigenise” the national curriculum.
- by Lisa Visentin
‘Move on’: Health Minister evades questions over private school vaccine program
The decision for NSW Health to vaccinate year 12 students at St Joseph’s College sparked fury from vulnerable adults and teachers who argue they should be given priority in the rollout.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos and Jordan Baker
Exclusive
Mandatory masks being considered for high school students
The NSW government is debating whether to include mandatory masks for high school students when COVID is circulating in the community.
- by Jordan Baker
Opinion
The old school tie has lost potency, but a private education still opens doors
In a society that looks to its future productivity and social cohesion — plum jobs should be available to all who strive, irrespective of their postcode or school.
- by Julie Szego
Musicians, a former teacher and veteran soldier among first to receive Ramsay scholarships
Fourteen men and six women have been awarded the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation’s Rhodes-style scholarships, which will pay postgraduate students up to $85,000 to study abroad this year.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Ex-ASIO boss says foreign veto powers are ‘necessary’ but should be used carefully
Duncan Lewis doesn’t see the government’s power to cancel foreign deals as “a sinister thing”, but says it’s important research partnerships don’t become a casualty.
- by Lisa Visentin
NSW Health says it gave Pfizer jab to more than 160 students ‘in error’
NSW Health said it only meant to give Pfizer jabs to a handful of Indigenous students at St Joseph’s College but accidentally inoculated 163 HSC students.
- by Jordan Baker and Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
Year 12 students at St Joseph’s College given Pfizer vaccination
While older Australians wait for their jabs, NSW Health arranged for Pfizer jabs for 160 year 12 students at St Joseph’s College in Hunters Hill.
- by Jordan Baker and Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
No plan for home learning but schools asked to be prepared
Although there are no plans for wide scale home learning when school resumes next week, the new strain means schools will need to be prepared for home learning.
- by Lucy Cormack
Opinion
Delay the start of term if that’s what it takes to get teachers vaccinated
School closures should be the last line in the COVID-defence strategy, but teachers need protection.
- by Rosalind Dixon and Richard Holden
Universities’ confusion over foreign veto scheme
Universities say they struggled to determine which research contracts the federal government wanted oversight of under the new veto scheme.
- by Lisa Visentin
Young teachers seek out AstraZeneca shots ahead of school return
Sydney teachers have sought out AstraZeneca shots after the Prime Minister said anyone under the age of 40 could talk to their GP about receiving the vaccine.
- by Mary Ward
‘Huge question mark’ over university plan after outbreak, cut to caps
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the new caps on international arrivals will potentially impact the state’s plans to bring international students back to campuses.
- by Lisa Visentin, Adam Carey and Michael Fowler
Opinion
A toddler can set your head straight when others are losing theirs
Amid national panic at a pandemic, the joy and energy of a toddler offers perspective.
- by Tony Wright
NAPLAN changes could make tests earlier in the year, deliver results in two weeks
The changes, if delivered, could avoid schools “teaching to the test” to improve their results and establish students’ starting points for the school year.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Scientific and digital literacy to feature in new NAPLAN test
Students will be tested on their digital and scientific literacy and on their ability to think creatively and critically as part of a revamped NAPLAN test.
- by Adam Carey
Father warned Australia would be a ‘prison’: Tragically, he was right
“It’s a prison,” said his Irish father when former British diplomat Francis Campbell was offered a top academic post here. Sadly lockdown proved that true.
- by Anna Patty
‘Regional universities are going to struggle’: The unis worst hit by COVID-19
Regional universities across Australia have experienced a 40 per cent drop overall in international students, while the country’s more prestigious university’s saw a drop of only 1 per cent.
- by Anna Patty
Schools prepare for remote learning, live-streamed events for a COVID-safe term three
Schools and the NSW government are optimistic that face-to-face learning will resume in term three - even if it means parents cannot attend school grounds or a temporary ban on events such as whole-of-school assemblies - but reliable health advice is likely still a week away.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Universities need help from security agencies to tackle foreign interference on campus
Universities say they have limited power to protect students from Chinese government surveillance once it extends beyond the classroom.
- by Lisa Visentin
‘I am watching you’: Chinese students surveilled at Australian universities
A new report by Human Rights Watch has revealed the degree of surveillance and harassment faced by some Chinese international students when they study in Australia.
- by Lisa Visentin
Opinion
Beware moves to shut down ‘harmful’ debates
The ability of well-educated, intelligent adult students to conduct open conversations without hemming in ideas and inquiry, however controversial, is part of a university’s purpose.
- by The Herald's View
Professor returns home: UNSW finds its next vice-chancellor
The University of Technology Sydney’s vice-chancellor, Professor Attila Brungs, will become the new head of the University of New South Wales.
- by Jordan Baker
Thousands of Sydney students isolating during holidays amid COVID-19 spread in schools
The new cases in a Rose Bay Secondary College student and childcare worker at Bellevue Hill Kids Club will be reported by health authorities on Tuesday.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos, Mary Ward and Lucy Carroll
More eastern suburbs schools caught up in Sydney’s COVID-19 outbreak
About 550 students at South Coogee Public School have been asked to isolate for 14 days, while Emanuel School also notified parents on Sunday evening of a positive case in a student.
- by Lucy Carroll
Calls for the return of the one-year teaching qualification
A teacher shortage is biting in NSW, particularly in regional and disadvantaged areas, and will get worse as a large group of older teachers retire and fewer young people elect to begin teaching degrees.
- by Jordan Baker
Time for school: No consensus on benefits of changing starting time
As families fret about how later or earlier school start times will affect them, the NSW education minister says any changes will be entirely voluntary.
- by Jordan Baker
‘It took me a while to feel like equals’: a teacher and pupil’s lifelong friendship
As a 1960s schoolgirl in rural Victoria, Glenda Maes idolised her hip home economics teacher, Cathy McCallum, then followed the same career path. Today, the pair share hot drinks, home-cooked meals and a vegie patch.
- by Susan Horsburgh
Exclusive
Chaplain who told boys to rate girls had history of ‘extreme Christianity’
The St Luke’s school chaplain compared homosexuality to the sin of murder, called impure girls sluts and said excessive masturbation hurt the penis.
- by Jordan Baker
Exclusive
High-fee private schools reap more than $6 million each in JobKeeper
Moriah College was given almost $7 million in JobKeeper subsidies, while The King’s School at Parramatta claimed around $8.5 million
- by Jordan Baker
Exclusive
NSW schools struggle to find teachers as supply collapses
The shortage is biting statewide as some schools battle to fill more than 10 vacancies each. At the same time, enrolment numbers for education degrees have fallen by a third - with half of trainees failing to finish their degree.
- by Jordan Baker
‘Forced out by cancel culture’: Tudge condemns Vaile’s exit as Newcastle Uni chancellor
But senior Newcastle University academics say there was widespread unhappiness among staff at Mr Vaile’s appointment due to his chairmanship of Whitehaven Coal.
- by Lisa Visentin
Charles Sturt University refers fraud allegations to police
The university’s interim vice-chancellor, Professor John Germov, said police were investigating a historical case of fraud.
- by Anna Patty
Sydney to get its first new selective high school in 25 years
New schools are also planned for St Leonards, Chatswood and Macquarie Park - one of them on the site of the Premier’s old high school.
- by Jordan Baker
Exclusive
School asked boys to use rating system on girls, female students taught to keep virginity
Boys at a northern beaches Anglican school were told to choose the qualities they looked for in a girl from a list that allocated more points for virginity, looks, and strong Christian values than for generosity and adventurousness. In another classroom, girls were given articles to read about why remaining a virgin until marriage was important.
- by Jordan Baker
Mark Vaile quits Newcastle University chancellor role amid backlash over coal links
The former Nationals leader’s appointment as chancellor was met with significant backlash from staff, students and potential donors.
- by Lisa Visentin