Andrew Leigh has a rivetting outline and discussion on the merits of "merit pay" and its relationship to policy work on teacher effectiveness. Have a read and engage in the debate. Debating the merits of merit pay. Glenn Rowley and Lawrence Ingvarson have a piece in today’s Age, criticising my recent study on teacher effectiveness. It’s not online, so I’ve…
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Teacher inquiry report now available. A unified, national approach to improve teacher education in Australia is the predominant theme of the House of Representatives Education and Vocational Training Committee's report on the inquiry into teacher education. The report, Top of the Class, makes a total of 12 recommendations. It proposes a powerful reform package of practical and achievable measures that…
Peter McMahon, writing in the On line Opinion presents an intriguing position that... The radical impact of new information technologies and the rise of the global crises (global warming, peak oil and the like) are forcing a new kind of politics into being. He suggests [as many of us would agree] that twenty-first century society will be defined by the…
In the biggest petition to be tabled in the Victorian Parliament in the past five years, more than 34,000 voters urged the State Government to shift responsibility for preschools out of the Department of Human Services and into the Department of Education. They say the move would put more emphasis on early childhood learning, cut kindergarten fees, help children in…
An ongoing, recurring and avoidable national disgrace.... Children are among the highest users of a government-funded program for the homeless, a report says. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report shows of the almost 160,000 people who accessed government-funded accommodation last year, 43 per cent were children. The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) is a shared responsibility of…
An extra 4600 Australian students will undertake tertiary study next year, with more than half of the new places created in medical and teaching courses. Victoria is the largest beneficiary of the extra funding, securing 1326 new places, under a Federal Government plan to increase the number of university places. NSW universities are next, with 1307 extra students. Federal Education…
Kenneth Davidson reflects on the State Government's use of PPP's IT IS clear that the Bracks Government is softening up public opinion for the introduction of private funding for government schools and TAFEs, as well as other public infrastructure — even though the Government has yet to show how this form of funding offers value for money to Victorian taxpayers.…
Often at this time of year, newspapers report on disappointed year 12 students who have missed out on a place in universities. A study released by ACER included 8000 students evaluates those who were unsuccessful. The study, Unmet Demand? Characteristics and Activities of University Applicants Not Offered a Place, was released by ACER in December 2005 as part of the Longitudinal Surveys…
This paper reports on a Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) project that explored policies, programs and other initiatives by Australia’s states and territories to support innovation, and to build VET capability to respond to its effects on skill needs. The project was undertaken in late 2003-early 2004. The project examined the range of initiatives adopted by…