Education
We asked these Australians what they thought of the budget. This is what they told us
We spoke to people about their thoughts and concerns ahead of, and immediately after, the budget. Here’s what they had to say.
- by Olivia Ireland, Josefine Ganko, Jessica McSweeney, Jim Malo, Alex Crowe, Megan Gorrey and Cara Waters
Latest
Opinion
Students have a right to protest. Peacefully. On campus. Universities must be defended
Calls for “intifada” are antisemitic, but it is not clear that police should end an entire protest in response to isolated criminal offences.
- by Alan Finkel
Tom once sat at the back of his classroom and cried. He has a message for Australian teachers
If teachers are to win back control of classrooms, they will need more than a well-planned lesson.
- by Christopher Harris and Lucy Carroll
Labor backs compulsory fee payment to student unions
The government is mandating universities pass on 40 per cent of student amenities fees to student unions.
- by Angus Thompson and Natassia Chrysanthos
How the budget affects you – from students to retirees
Young or old, single or married: this is how the 2024 budget will impact your life.
- by Rachel Clun and Olivia Ireland
Cut reliance on Chinese and Indian students, government tells universities
University chiefs are being told to channel international students into courses that fill Australian skills shortages, deepening a dispute over federal plans to cap their annual intake.
- by David Crowe and Daniella White
Exclusive
Labor to unveil university racism review
Tuesday’s budget is expected to include new funding for an investigation of racism in higher education as two teals back Coalition calls for an antisemitism inquiry.
- by Paul Sakkal and Natassia Chrysanthos
Rushi was accused of using AI to cheat. It took him weeks to clear his name
Students are being falsely accused of plagiarism as universities turn to imperfect tools to detect the unauthorised use of AI.
- by Daniella White
‘Ultimate distraction’: Why this top Sydney school has resisted screens in class
While many students are asked to bring their own devices into schools across the state, some are resisting the trend to have iPads or laptops in lessons.
- by Lucy Carroll
Exclusive
Inside Labor’s drastic cap on overseas students – and the urgent meeting it’s triggered
Universities will be forced to stop a surge in overseas students, sparking fears about the impact on the $48 billion industry.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Expelling problem students sounds impressive. But all it does is pass the buck
In kicking the can of responsibility for the Yarra Valley Grammar students who ranked their female classmates to another school, parents are missing the point.
- by Adam Voigt
Exclusive
International students are trying to stay on in record numbers
Coalition sources said immigration and homeownership would be central to Peter Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech as he develops an anti-“Big Australia” election narrative.
- by Paul Sakkal
HECS burden stifling productivity
Education Minister Jason Clare needs to change our student debt system, not just patch it.
‘Banned’ school heaters still in use across thousands of classrooms
Unflued gas heaters have been banned in other states for their asthma risks, but are still found in more than 1400 NSW schools.
- by Mary Ward
Updated
Australia set to back watered-down United Nations resolution on Palestine
Australian government sources said a watered-down version of the motion contained major concessions by the Palestinians and Arab nations.
- by James Massola and Matthew Knott
Who’s bankrolling Sydney’s private school fees? The bank of nan and pop
More parents are missing school payments as they struggle with massive mortgage payments. Cashed-up baby boomers are here to help.
- by Christopher Harris
Sydney, Monash unis warn students as Dreyfus refuses legal advice
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus noted that people could make a complaint under the Racial Discrimination Act if they were concerned about phrases being used by protesters.
- by James Massola, David Crowe, Daniella White and Sherryn Groch
‘Publish the marks’: Parents bristle at secret selective school entry scores
Parents like Rav Singh are annoyed that his son Veyaan, who sat the test on Thursday, doesn’t know where he stands.
- by Christopher Harris
Student with knife sends Sydney school into lockdown, staff member injured
A Sydney school was sent into lockdown after a student allegedly brought a knife to school. A teacher was cut while disarming the teenager.
- by Perry Duffin
Opinion
When uni students endorse terror, it’s time for political intervention
The university protests in Australia arising from the Israel-Gaza conflict have moved beyond a debate about free speech.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Uni protests are messy, but they prove that campuses have come back to life
A sad legacy of lockdowns is that too many of us are unable to stop and listen to another side. But the noise of the encampments shows that campuses have come back to life.
- by Alexandra Wake
Exclusive
University chiefs seek federal advice on ‘intifada’ calls
The universities have written to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to gain formal advice on whether the pro-Palestinian demand is a breach of federal law.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
University orders removal of ‘Zionist not welcome’ signs as protests escalate
As scuffles broke out at a pro-Palestine encampment at an Australian university, the institution confirmed it was acting after days of pressure on vice chancellors.
- by Paul Sakkal and Alex Crowe
Editorial
Same-sex families don’t just belong in Newtown: they belong everywhere
The ugly topic of censorship made an unwelcome return to the headlines this week.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
What are the consequences of being a ‘wifey’ or ‘unrapable’? I hope those girls never find out
When my own high school rating list came out, that ranking stayed with me forever. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
- by Katy Hall
More than 40 staff at northern beaches school targeted with malware by colleague
Police say school staff had personal information including credit card details allegedly stolen by Aaron Pennesi. Police also allegedly found child abuse material.
- by Sally Rawsthorne
Exclusive
Banks open to overlooking student debt in home loans – but there’s a catch
The banks say it should be up to financial regulators to determine whether student debt gets special treatment in mortgage assessments.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos and Angus Thompson
Exclusive
Minister vows to ‘weed out the bottom feeders’ in university system
Private colleges have been told to stop recruiting fake overseas students within six months or risk losing their licences.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
Revealed: Sydney’s most overcrowded primary and high schools
While one public school has hit 2200 students, others are sitting underused with room for hundreds more pupils. Search the full list to see how crowded your school is.
- by Lucy Carroll and Nigel Gladstone
This Australian uni is considering expanding into Saudi Arabia. It’s caused a stir back home
The institution was the first foreign university to be granted a licence to explore opening in the authoritarian kingdom.
- by Daniella White
Opinion
Until Labor arrests the ballooning cost of uni, students are still being short-changed
It remains to be seen how much difference a sometimes-reduced rate of indexation is going to make. Certainly, some. But the root of the problem remains.
- by Rachel Withers
Completion bonuses on the cards in university overhaul
Education Minister Jason Clare’s vision for getting more disadvantaged students into universities will be outlined in next week’s budget.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Forty-nine students got 99.95 ATARs. These are the HSC subjects they chose
Aside from compulsory English, there was one common subject among the elite group.
- by Christopher Harris
Western Sydney University announces new vice chancellor
Professor George Williams AO, a current deputy vice chancellor at the University of NSW, has been announced as the new leader of Western Sydney University.
- by Josefine Ganko
Opinion
The government’s HECS change is good, but another tweak is still needed
Timing is important – and that’s one of the clear shortfalls in the federal government’s surprise for young people with student loans.
- by Millie Muroi
‘They’d be so proud’: The 10-year-olds accepting challenge laid for them 40 years ago
One school keeping an ancient Indigenous language alive is helping to close the gap through cultural education and it hopes to spread the joy.
- by Catherine Naylor
Student incomes to receive further government boost as Labor goes after youth vote
Education Minister Jason Clare also warned any intimidation on university campuses was “intolerable”.
- by Angus Thompson and Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Sydney private schools harness parent donations for scholarships
A Herald analysis of financial reports from more than 20 schools shows scholarship and bursary budgets have grown to a total value of more than $200 million.
- by Lucy Carroll and Nigel Gladstone
Labor wipes $3b off student loans as cost-of-living relief measure
Facing blowback over its agenda to help financially insecure Millennials, Labor has revealed a major change to the calculation of student loan indexation.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
School students missed more than 9 million days of learning last year. Here’s why
Attendance levels remain below pre-pandemic levels, while a third of public school students are leaving before finishing year 12.
- by Lucy Carroll and Nigel Gladstone
Opinion
I’ve seen the fear of Jewish students and colleagues: One academic’s plea to uni protesters
I am no fan of Benjamin Netanyahu and the war he is prosecuting, but I am deeply concerned by the illiberal and simplistic turn that the protests at Sydney University are taking.
- by Catharine Lumby
‘Part of who we are’: Why Sydney Uni vice chancellor allows protest camp to stay
Vice chancellor Mark Scott says a few pro-Palestinian student activists were under investigation for inappropriate behaviour but their protest campsite will remain on campus.
- by Daniella White
‘No-go areas for Jewish students’: Pro-Palestinian university camps grow
The number of pro-Palestinian campsites have now been set up at four universities, prompting calls from Jewish groups for them to be dismantled.
- by Christopher Harris
‘No blank cheques’: Clare ties extra school funding to help for disadvantaged students
NSW and Victoria claim that onerous reporting conditions tied to the proposed 2.5 per cent funding increase will only add to pressures on teachers.
- by Angus Thompson
How this Sydney school doubled its top scores in HSC maths
The number of students tackling advanced and extension maths has plummeted to record lows in the past three years – but there is a way to reverse the trend.
- by Lucy Carroll
‘The village isn’t around’: Parents book drivers for afternoon juggle
More parents are turning to ride-share services for children, as the end of working from home puts pressure on families.
- by Mary Ward
Male anger problem needs radical action
A royal commission is a good idea, but only if the government commits to implementing the recommendations. This needs to be a whole of community approach, not just whole of government.
Exclusive
‘Shortchanging kids’: States demand extra $12b in united front over schools
States are accusing the federal government of shortchanging students as they seek a 5 per cent increase in school funding from the Commonwealth.
- by Angus Thompson and Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
Inside the plan that could rein in vice chancellor salaries and overhaul uni boards
A new taskforce to police how universities are run will be pitched to state education ministers, as figures reveal the extent of corporatisation of university councils.
- by Sherryn Groch
Private school students were asked what they’d eaten for breakfast. Later that day, they were scored
A study quizzed students about the nutritional quality of their breakfast and then made them sit a test later in the day.
- by Christopher Harris