A decade ago, it was hoped the Gonski reforms would level the playing field for Australian students, but the system is now even more unfair. A new book lays out how it all went wrong.
The general idea of personalised learning is where teachers help students understand key concepts through individualised learning and group work.
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Many rely on David Gonski’s ideas to shape the future of education policy. But his recommendation of personalised learning is a scripted, rigid version of education that will take us backwards.
Regardless of who wins next year’s federal election, it’s time for us to all get on the same page.
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2018 was a mixed bag for schooling policy in Australia, with new ministers, a new organisation and auspicious anniversaries. It’s worth reflecting on the year that’s been.
Leader of the Victorian Greens Samantha Ratnam with the member for Melbourne Ellen Sandell.
AAP/PENNY STEPHENS
Catholic schools say they’re losing money under Gonski 2.0, but this is only true for schools serving students in affluent areas – those in poorer areas will either be unaffected, or get more.
For Australian school kids to get the most benefit out of school funding reforms, the Commonwealth government must take a hands-off approach.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The shift in the education debate from “how much” to “how best” is a welcome change, but for students to feel the full benefit the federal government must resist intervening.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham is calling for a new education funding model to replace Gonski.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Instead of a needs-based model, we ended up with an inconsistent patchwork of approaches across Australian states and territories that protected the vested interests of non-government schools.
Australians are some of the worst wasters in the developed world.
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Labor has announced it will commit to fully funding Gonski, with a reform package costing $37.3 billion over the next decade.
But is this actually what the Gonski review recommended?
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has distanced himself from the controversial proposals to withdraw federal funding from public schools, and means-test public school parents.
AAP/Glenn Hunt
The leak of four reform proposals for Australian schooling has triggered panic and confusion across the country. But while at first glance the proposals may seem worrying, they need to be put in context.
Gonski’s report on school funding has been backed by a senate committee even though the federal government isn’t backing it.
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With very limited media attention, the Australian public could be excused for not even knowing about the Senate Select Committee that handed down its report on equity and excellence in Australian schools…
What’s the ideal arrangement for funding education? Would responsibility lie with the federal or state governments?
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The federal budget reignited debate over federal-state relations with a decision to cut $80 billion funding for the state responsibilities of schools and hospitals over the coming years. So how can federal-state…
David Gonski said he still stands by the recommendations in his review, despite them not being accepted by government.
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Chair of the Review of Funding for Schooling David Gonski has spoken out on his role in the controversial funding plan, released in 2011. In a speech to the Australian College of Educators at The University…
This year saw turbulent times –from childcare centres to universities.
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For most education watchers, this year has rushed by in a policy blur. So much so that we thought we had better launch our very own shiny Education section just to help you keep on top of things. The launch…
Gonski isn’t everything and we need to refocus the debate back to equity.
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It’s been a big week for education. Amidst all the confusion and politics on school funding of the last week there have been a couple of repeated mantras by the federal education minister – namely that…
Education minister Chris Pyne says the Gonski model was addressing a problem that doesn’t really exist in Australian education: equity.
AAP Image/ Nikki Short) NO ARCHIVING
“The OECD says that we are a high equity nation in terms of our students… I don’t believe there is an equity problem in Australia.” – Education Minister Christopher Pyne, Lateline interview, 26 November…
The Gonski money is back with an extra boost for some states that have signed up. But schools need to look for simpler solutions.
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During the Cold War, both the Soviets and the Americans were trying to develop a way to write in space. American entrepreneurs spent an unknown sum developing a “space pen”, while the Soviets initially…
It’s not too often you see a backflip on a backflip, but education minister Christopher Pyne has managed it.
AAP/Stefan Postles
It seems we’re in Gonski groundhog day. The repeated backflips and policy position switches from the Abbott government – only three months into its term – have been astounding. After announcing last week…
Why are we going backwards on the schools funding debate?
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After a tense meeting in Canberra today, education state ministers raised concerns that the new federal government changes to school funding would see cuts only target public schools. The NSW education…