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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.

Indigenous education – a poor performer
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 29, 2012

Indigenous education in Australia has made little or no headway since NAPLAN testing began in...

Review of indigenous literacy and numeracy 2008-2011
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 28, 2012ON LINE Opinion

NAPLAN results from across Australia show that Queensland and Western Australia are the only states...

WA can do more in indigenous education
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 27, 2012The West Australian

WA is on its way to reducing indigenous literacy and numeracy failure rates, which will...

‘Indigenous-specific’ programs are a $300m waste
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 27, 2012The Australian

If Queensland and WA do meet their indigenous literacy and numeracy targets, it will take...

More Indigenous students failing NAPLAN in all states except WA & QLD
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 27, 2012

NAPLAN results show plummeting standards of Indigenous education across the country, according to a new...

Indigenous Education 2012
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 27, 2012PM129

In 2008, governments reduced their Indigenous literacy and numeracy target from ‘fix the problem in...

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...

Reading wars rage on
Glenn FaheySeptember 24, 2020Ideas@theCentre

Despite decades of bruising battles, the reading wars rage on — with a new review...

Wrestling the writing decline key to education improvement
Glenn FaheySeptember 20, 2020Canberra Times

The dire state of Australian students’ writing is perhaps the worst-kept secret of our education...

ASX no solution to education
Fiona MuellerSeptember 17, 2020Ideas@theCentre

Could there be a more depressing statement about parents’ confidence in Australian schooling than a...

Our schools already let too many children down before this year of disruption. Where to from here?
Fiona MuellerSeptember 16, 2020Spectator

Could there be a more depressing statement about parents’ confidence in Australian schooling than a...

In defence of exams and the ATAR
Blaise JosephSeptember 14, 2020Financial Review

The pandemic has provided an excuse for some progressive education advocates to attempt another coup...

Professionalism to lift teaching status
Glenn FaheySeptember 10, 2020Ideas@theCentre

Lifting teaching’s status can be achieved through embracing — rather than obstructing — market-based reform....

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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