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.

Education and Learning in an Aboriginal Community
Veronica ClearyDecember 6, 2005IA65

Educational reforms are urgently needed if children in remote Aboriginal communities are to enjoy the...

Time to open gate to school-based training
Jennifer Buckingham OAMNovember 2, 2005The Newcastle Herald

A few things are known about education. The most important influence on how much a...

Good Teachers Where They Are Needed
Jennifer Buckingham OAMOctober 19, 2005IA64

Allowing qualified professionals to become teachers through school-based education has the potential to reduce Australia’s...

Teaching for profit will attract and retain talent
Ross FarrellySeptember 8, 2005The Age

The feel-good 2002 French movie Etre et Avoir ( To Be and To Have) portrayed...

The Free Market Case Against Voluntary Student Unionism (But for Voluntary Student Representation)
Andrew NortonAugust 31, 2005IA62

Introducing ‘voluntary student unionism’ (VSU) into Australia’s universities would do two things: It would make...

Priced out of further education
Steven SchwartzApril 4, 2005The Age

Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson has urged Australians who want to maintain their standard of...

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...

Lessons that everyone can profit from
Jennifer Buckingham OAMSeptember 25, 2006The Australian Financial Review

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

Setting readers to rights
August 31, 2006The Australian

In 1997, federal, state and territory education ministers agreed that “every child commencing school from...

Funding system is broken
August 28, 2006The Age

The annual release of the Good Universities Guide, with its estimates of how much each...

Report into literacy and numeracy too narrow
August 8, 2006The Canberra Times

Late last month, in his address to Reconciliation Australia, Prime Minister John Howard said education...

Choice is best for curriculum
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJuly 31, 2006The Age

School curricula and the standards of students seem to be constantly under fire, with discussion...

Showcasing Unis when price is right
April 24, 2006The Age

Many critics of universities complain that commerce is put ahead of education. To them, generalist...

Phonics and Literacy
Mark ScottApril 20, 2017

England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching...

Facing facts in education
Nick Gibb, Rob Stokes, Mark ScottApril 11, 2017

England’s schools have undergone substantial changes in the last decade, including: introducing systematic phonics teaching...

Direct and Explicit Teaching Methods
November 3, 2016
Five From Five launch – Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
April 18, 2016
Five From Five launch – Dr Kerry Hempenstall
April 18, 2016
Five From Five launch – NSW Minister of Education Adrian Piccoli
April 14, 2016
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