What's newPeter Garrett appointed Minister for Schools, Early Childhood and YouthThe Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced the new Ministry of the incoming Australian Government. Peter Garrett has been appointed Minister for Schools, Early Childhood and Youth. Other appointments include Kate Ellis MP as Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare; Senator Jacinta Collins as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Senator Chris Evans as Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations; and Senator Stephen Conroy as Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. See Prime Minister's statement 11 September 2010. See also article 15 September and earlier article 13 September 2010 in TheSydney Morning Herald, and editorial in The Australian 14 September 2010. Further discussion of NAPLAN test resultsA report on the ABC's EdPod program examines issues surrounding the latest NAPLAN test results. The report is available as a podcast and transcript. See also articles 16 September and 11 September 2010 in The Australian. Implementation of national curriculum in NSW to be delayedThe implementation of the national curriculum is set to be delayed in NSW, according to an article in The Sydney Morning Herald 17 September 2010. See also notices on the website of the NSW Board of Studies concerning implementation of the national curriculum in NSW. South Australian Government sets out education budgetThe South Australian Government has announced that the new state budget provides for more than 700 extra teachers and support staff, and will also reduce the administrative burden on school leaders in managing information technology in schools. See statement by State Treasurer Ken Foley 16 September 2010. See also article in The Advertiser (Adelaide Now) also 16 September 2010. OneSchool supports students' learning journey across schools in QueenslandOneSchool is a secure, web-based system through which Queensland state school teachers can obtain and provide a rich picture of each student's progress from Prep to Year 12. More than 10,000 students have now completed their Senior Education and Training Plans using the module. OneSchool is also assisting communication between state school teachers and students, and teachers and parents. See statement 15 September 2010 by Queensland Minister for Education Geoff Wilson. Many South Australian teachers set to retire within five yearsThe DECS Career Intentions Survey, conducted by the University of Adelaide, covers the career plans of teachers aged 45 and over who work in South Australian public schools. The survey's results indicate that almost a third of respondents expect to retire in the next five years. See article in The Advertiser (Adelaide Now) 13 September 2010. Principal urges against coachingA leading NSW principal and a leading maths educator in NSW have both criticised the use of external tuition to supplement schools' academic programs. Robyn Hughes, the principal of a leading selective high school, has argued against excessive focus on academic study at the expense of other extra-curricular activities. Mary Coupland, president of the Mathematical Association of NSW, has warned that external tuition can lead to confusion between different teaching methods, and an overconfident or dismissive attitude to schoolwork. See article in The Sydney Morning Herald 15 September 2010. Students from skilled NESB migrant backgrounds at selective schoolsA series of reports on the Sydney Morning Herald website have commented on a trend for selective schools to include high numbers of students from educated, skilled, non-English speaking migrant backgrounds. See article, related report and commentary all 13 September, and subsequent article 14 September 2010. School reform continues in Western AustraliaWestern Australia's Minister for Education, Elizabeth Constable, has announced the introduction of a new stage of school reform in the state. School support service, currently operating from district education offices, will move to schools. School networks, led by experienced network principals, are to provide personalised, local support to schools in order to give greater curriculum choices for students. Schools will also have increased access to specialist staff. Measures will also be introduced to provide a smoother transition for students from primary to secondary schools. See Minister's statement 9 September 2010. Improved school bus services in South AustraliaSouth Australia's Education Minister, Jay Weatherill, has announced that the State Government will spend $114.5 million over four years on a program to modernise and improve school bus services. See Minister's statement 13 September 2010. |