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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.

Synthetic phonics and learning to read
Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Rob Stokes, Anne Castles, Troy Verey, Robyn Ewing, Kathy Rushton, Mark Diamond, Natasha RobinsonJuly 31, 2018

A key point of contention in the ‘reading wars’ is the best way to teach...

Funding fight highlights importance of school choice
Blaise JosephJuly 22, 2018Newcastle Herald

To paraphrase Paul Keating: never get between a school system and a bucket of money....

Simple solution to STEM teacher shortage
Blaise JosephJuly 20, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Faced with the shortage of qualified teachers for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects,...

School funding review makes the grade
Blaise JosephJuly 13, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

After the platitude-heavy and detail-light Gonski 2 report, it was refreshing to read the concisely-written...

Chaney nails the future of non-government school funding
Blaise Joseph, Jennifer Buckingham OAMJuly 10, 2018The Australian

Another week, another education report. The first report from the National School Resourcing Board chaired...

The fight for phonics in early years reading
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJuly 10, 2018ResearchED

There is extensive research on how children learn to read and how best to teach...

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...

More options in full-fee places
January 31, 2005The Age

For seven years Australian universities have enrolled local full-fee under-graduates but the controversy surrounding them...

Campuses at your service
August 11, 2004The Australian

As a final provocation to the leftist National Union of Students before the federal election,...

Uni reform package to benefit students
June 20, 2003The Canberra Times

In most political controversies, the Government exaggerates the benefit of its policies, and the Opposition...

Higher fees will give students more choice
May 16, 2003The Sydney Morning Herald

During a budget night interview, The 7.30 Report's presenter, Kerry O'Brien, asked the Treasurer, Peter...

HECS not putting hex on parenthood
April 4, 2003The Newcastle Herald

Topical issues give new impetus to old agendas, and opponents of university fees are using...

NZ school zoning: fairness or fraud?
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 20, 2003The Independant

Good state schools in both New Zealand and Australia are facing a large and growing...

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 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...

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