Become a Member Donate Now

• Education

Quality school education is vital for individual potential and a healthy society. All children should have access to an education that is responsive to their needs as well as upholding high academic standards. CIS’s research focus is on policies that improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes.

charter schools, macky, education
Do charter schools offer a better education? Margaret Raymond explains
Trisha JhaJanuary 19, 2024

Do charter schools offer a better education? In a probing exploration of the education landscape,...

Eric Hanushek, school, education, economics
Eric Hanushek on the economics of education.
Eric Hanushek, Trisha JhaJanuary 12, 2024

Eric Hanushek on the economics of education. What can an economist know about the best...

civics education, education, howard, australia, policy
Make civics education great again
Andrew BlythJanuary 11, 2024SPECTATOR - FLAT WHITE

The unveiling of the 2003 Howard Government Cabinet records last week is more than...

The political winners and losers of 2023
Simon CowanDecember 30, 2023CANBERRA TIMES

The political winners and losers of 2023 Once again it is the time of year...

Making Maths Teaching Count
Glenn Fahey, Sarah PowellDecember 21, 2023
Join us on March 27 for a discussion led by Sarah Powell & Toni Hatten-Roberts,...
Education Crossroads: UK Thoughts for Down Under
Amanda Spielman, Glenn FaheyDecember 21, 2023
CIS presents Amanda Spielman in an engaging breakfast discussion, reflecting on game-changing reforms in the...
Childcare in Australia: A new approach
Gigi FosterNovember 20, 2025RR51

Executive summary Several well-known bodies, from the Productivity Commission to the Australian Competition and Consumer...

Knowledge is power: What do teachers believe about learning?
Trisha JhaOctober 30, 2025AP92

Executive Summary This report presents findings from literature about what teachers believe about how students...

Sex and maths success: myths and interventions
David C. GearyJuly 17, 2025AP83

Executive summary Mathematical competencies at the completion of secondary school influence later educational and occupational...

Early Numbers, Big Ideas. Fostering Number Sense in Young Children
Nancy C. Jordan, Nancy DysonJuly 10, 2025AP82

Introduction Numbers are an integral part of our daily lives, both inside and outside of...

Fractions Minus the Friction. A guide to four teaching practices
Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Allison McClure, Cassandra HatfieldDecember 12, 2024AP78

Introduction Understanding fractions has a significant impact on both individuals and society. Fractions are an...

The Argument For Debate: how school debating can improve academic outcomes and foster a stronger democracy
Deidre Clary, Fiona MuellerDecember 5, 2024AP77

Introduction The Education Goals for Young Australians prioritise “excellence and equity” and the formation of...

Give parents informed choice for schooling
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 18, 2007The Newcastle Herald

In his widely-reported speech to The Centre for Independent Studies this week, the Prime Minister...

Places left untouched by reform
May 16, 2007The Australian

The $5 billion Higher Education Endowment Fund announced in last week's budget gives the Government...

State must focus on Aboriginal schooling
Kirsten StorryMay 11, 2007The West Australian

When the nation’s education ministers met in Darwin last month, nit-picking over the national literacy...

Excuses fail our neediest students
Kirsten StorryApril 4, 2007The Australian

In remote community schools, children often miss one or two days of school a week....

Graduate supply fails to match jobs demand
March 27, 2007The Newcastle Herald

This year more than 170,000 Australians will enrol in an undergraduate course, yet according to...

A degree of dissatisfaction
March 23, 2007The Courier Mail

The annual offers for university places bring joy for many but disappointment for others, whose...

Woke ‘sense and sensibilities’ replace reason and logic
Glenn Fahey, Claire Fox, Tanveer AhmedAugust 27, 2021

Schools and universities have become preoccupied with cushioning students’ experiences, rather than challenging them. The...

Is technology our educational saviour?
Glenn Fahey, Jamie Beaton, Wayne Houlden, John HattieJuly 15, 2021

A free and open marketplace for education technology has the potential to deliver innovative solutions...

On Liberty EP53 Australians reject identity politics
Glenn Fahey, Bella D’AbreraJune 2, 2021On Liberty

We talked to Institute of Public Affairs’ Dr Bella d’Abrera. Speaking with The Australian recently,...

Scaling up success in majority Indigenous schools
Glenn Fahey, Noel Pearson, Alan TudgeJune 2, 2021

One of Australia’s most pressing public-policy challenges is to overcome poor education outcomes suffered by...

On Liberty EP48 Education or Enstupidation? English in the Curriculum
Salvatore Babones, Fiona MuellerApril 28, 2021On Liberty

How can students be expected to develop into intellectual adults if they are never exposed...

Advancing Indigenous Education Outcomes
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Lorraine Hammond, Glenn Fahey, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AOJanuary 12, 2021

Indigenous educational disadvantage has persisted despite countless initiatives, programmes, and spending from governments and communities....

Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
Trisha JhaSeptember 18, 2025

Submission at a glance 1. Achieving written curriculum quality is a necessary step for long-term...

Submission to the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2024

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think tank...

Submission to the Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy in ACT Public Schools
Trisha JhaFebruary 27, 2024

This submission does not directly seek to answer the 20 questions posted in the Consultation...

Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2023

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think...

Submission to the NSW Curriculum Review Interim Report Consultations
Fiona MuellerDecember 1, 2019

The NSW Government commissioned a review of the state’s curriculum in September, 2018, to be...

No Podcasts Available

• Subscribe

Subscribe now and stay in the loop with our giving appeals, event alerts, newsletters and research updates.

We are always pleased to hear from you. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us here:

+61 2 9438 4377
CIS Office
cis@cis.org.au
CIS Media
kpincott@cis.org.au