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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.

Advancing Indigenous Education Outcomes
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO, Glenn Fahey, Lorraine HammondMarch 1, 2021

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

The way forward for the Australian curriculum
Fiona MuellerFebruary 27, 2021Canberra Times

With the future of its children in mind, a clever country would be spotlighting a...

Calling time on an untimed syllabus
Glenn FaheyFebruary 19, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

The government’s decision to torpedo the controversial pitch for an ‘untimed syllabus’ in schools is...

Ditching academics’ fantasy a win for education
Glenn FaheyFebruary 16, 2021Sydney Morning Herald

The government’s decision to torpedo the controversial pitch for an “untimed syllabus” in schools is...

Missed chance for civics
Fiona MuellerFebruary 12, 2021IDEAS@THECENTRE

The current review of the national Curriculum seems an almost covert operation, and neglects the...

A 2021 education resolution: keep an eye on the Australian Curriculum
Fiona MuellerFebruary 11, 2021OP179

The COVID-19 pandemic is stimulating debate about the relationship between the governed and their leaders,...

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...

If we catch them young, kids will solve our numeracy crisis
Glenn FaheyOctober 23, 2025SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
How do we fix the alarming decline in numeracy among young Australians? The answer is...
Clare’s new education body offers a real chance for reform
Glenn FaheySeptember 10, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
Canberra’s bold plan to revolutionise education oversight faces a stark choice: become a game-changer or...
Unis must be run like a business, whether academics like it or not
Steven SchwartzSeptember 9, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Staff unions are mobilising, newspapers are lamenting, and politicians are hand-wringing, but the arithmetic is...
Benchmarked into oblivion
Steven SchwartzJuly 31, 2025SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE
NAPLAN is not so much a mirror as a house of mirrors....
We need better returns on education investment
Trisha Jha, Glenn FaheyJuly 30, 2025DAILY TELEGRAPH
Billions of dollars have been poured into school funding in the state over the past...
School child reading book
Education Minister Jason Clare must ensure new schools pact benefits nation
Glenn FaheyJuly 30, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
The latest NAPLAN results confirm the sobering truth that our school system continues to underdeliver...
On Liberty EP25 Education reforms to boost productivity
Glenn Fahey, Peter AchterstraatSeptember 22, 2020On Liberty

Hosted by CIS Research Fellow, Glenn Fahey. In this webinar, Glenn spoke with Peter Achterstraat...

On Liberty EP19 Should we increase university places?
Salvatore Babones, Andrew NortonAugust 13, 2020On Liberty

Salvatore Babones spoke with Andrew Norton, co-founder of CIS Liberty & Society and Professor of...

Do schools need a transformation?
Jordan Baker, Pasi Sahlberg, Greg AshmanAugust 13, 2020

A discussion between leading experts on the future of Australian education. Pasi Sahlberg and Greg...

On Liberty EP12 Five from Five Update
Salvatore Babones, Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 18, 2020On Liberty

We were pleased to have Dr Jennifer Buckingham to On Liberty. Jennifer is director of...

On Liberty EP7 Learning from home isn’t fair or sustainable
Salvatore Babones, Blaise JosephMay 14, 2020On Liberty

Salvatore Babones is joined by Blaise Joseph, Research Fellow in education and a former secondary...

Parental School Choice in Australia
Fiona Mueller, Michael Nuttall, Dallas McInerney, Dianne Giblin, Glenn FaheyNovember 26, 2019

Led by Fiona Mueller, the CIS education program focuses on School Choice and School Funding...

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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