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• 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.

University trade-offs for middle classes
Phil RennieJuly 25, 2007The Otago Daily Times

It’s now accepted wisdom that you need a university degree to have a successful and...

Broader scope in NT for schools
Kirsten StorryJuly 24, 2007The Canberra Times

One of the measures Prime Minister John Howard announced last month was that the Government...

Is university overrated?
Phil RennieJuly 9, 2007The Salient

It’s now accepted wisdom that you need a degree to have a successful and rewarding...

In Indigenous communities it is all about the teachers
July 2, 2007Online Opinion

If you have flown with Qantas recently, you may have seen the documentary Bush School...

Teachers key to remote schools
Kirsten StorryJune 18, 2007The Australian

In Aurukun on Queensland's Cape York, the school leadership refuses to accept that the complexity...

Dumbing Down: Outcomes-based and politically correct—the impact of the Culture Wars on our schools by Kevin Donnelly
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 11, 2007Policy

Dumbing Down: Outcomes-based and politically correct—the impact of the Culture Wars on our schools by...

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...

Ten Views on Vouchers
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 11, 2007Policy

School choice causes controversy, even among its supporters. Read full article

...
Rudd pins his faith on remissions
February 7, 2007The Australian

Labor is promising an "education revolution" but its higher education policy so far looks more...

Power (and cash) to the principals
Jennifer Buckingham OAMFebruary 7, 2007The Australian

Although much has been made about the poverty of educational standards in Australian schools lately,...

Furore over private-school fees is just a distraction
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJanuary 20, 2007The Australian Financial Review

A couple of times each year, there is a lot of fuss about increases in...

Let the schools choose which accredited curriculum to teach
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 30, 2006The Canberra Times

The idea of a national curriculum has been on the federal government agenda for several...

Keep the faith in education
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 6, 2006The Courier Mail

In the world of education, certain words have image problems. One of the words most...

Behind Every Great Teacher Is a Great System | David Didau, Jenny Donovan & Trisha Jha
Trisha Jha, David Didau, Jenny DonovanMarch 20, 2026

David Didau — education consultant, teacher trainer, and author of Making Kids Cleverer and Intelligent...

Education Reform That Works: Insights from UK, New Zealand & Australia
Glenn Fahey, Nick Gibb, Jason Clare MPDecember 8, 2025

Three leading education ministers — Sir Nick Gibb (UK), Erica Stanford (New Zealand), and Jason...

What do teachers believe about learning? | Trisha Jha
Trisha JhaNovember 6, 2025

This report presents findings from literature about what teachers believe about how students learn: the...

Restoring Excellence in Australian Education | Senator Jonathon Duniam
Glenn FaheyOctober 3, 2025

At this Centre for Independent Studies forum, Shadow Federal Minister for Education Senator Jonathon Duniam...

Evidence vs Ideology: Why the Science of Learning Matters?
Doctor Carl Hendrick, Doctor Simon Breakspear, Glenn FaheyJune 26, 2025

As Australian student outcomes decline and education inequality persists, a growing movement is challenging the...

The science of learning will set students free | Glenn Fahey
Robert Forsyth, Glenn FaheyJune 13, 2025

Robert Forsyth interviews Glenn Fahey, director of the education program at the Centre for Independent...

Submission to NAPLAN Reporting Review 2019
Blaise Joseph, Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 18, 2019

NAPLAN is a key element of government transparency and accountability There is very little evidence...

Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee Inquiry into The Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017
Blaise JosephMay 24, 2017CIS Submission
Productivity Commission Inquiry Into Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services: Submission in response to issues paper
Trisha JhaJuly 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Human Services Inquiry is ‘examining policy options in the human services sector that incorporate...

Productivity Commission Inquiry into the National Education Evidence Base: Submission in response to the draft report
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Review of Education Evidence (Draft Report)—the ‘Draft Report’—provides a useful, up-to-date overview of the...

Submission to the Parliament of NSW Standing Committee on State Development: Inquiry into economic development in Aboriginal communities
Sara HudsonFebruary 12, 2016CIS Submission

In seeking to improve Indigenous economic development outcomes it is important to recognise that high...

Submission to the National Commission of Audit
Alexander Philipatos, Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Jeremy Sammut, Robert Carling, Simon Cowan, Stephen Kirchner, Trisha JhaApril 1, 2014T30.08

The federal government’s Commission of Audit (CoA) was established in 2013 to review the performance...

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