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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.

The Puzzle of Boys’ Educational Decline: A Review of the Evidence
Jennifer Buckingham OAMNovember 18, 1999IA9

The declining standard of boys school performance in the last decade is great cause for...

Taking Education Seriously – A Reform Program for Australia’s Schools
Ken GannicottSeptember 16, 1997PM38

 

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State of the Nation: Statistical Indicators of Australia’s Well-being (1997)
Lucy Sullivan, Barry Maley, Michael WarbyApril 1, 1997SP01

Australia today is very different from the Australia of 100 years ago, or 50 years...

A Private Education for All
Mark HarrisionFebruary 1, 1996OP56

Though everyone recognises the importance of education to the nation’s future, many lack confidence in...

The Education Monopoly Problem
Edwin G. WestDecember 12, 1989OP26

Professor Edwin West has for many years been a leading authority on, and advocate of,...

Education fieldwork assistant
August 4, 1921

  Please apply by email to jblack@cis.org.au An opportunity exists to provide fieldwork assistance to...

Conduct Becoming. The importance of the Behaviour Curriculum
Tom BennettOctober 5, 2023AP56

Introduction Behaviour in many schools in the UK is often far below what it could...

Teaching Behaviour: How Classroom Conduct Can Unlock Better Learning
Tim McDonaldSeptember 28, 2023AP55

Introduction In Australia, and in education settings across the world, student behaviour and levels of...

Starting off on the wrong foot: How to improve Initial Teacher Education in Australia
Glenn Fahey, Rob JosephAugust 14, 2023AP53

Executive summary Australia’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) sector has been under review for much of...

In Defence of Meritocracy
Steven SchwartzJuly 6, 2023AP50

Introduction Democracies, dictatorships, and all other forms of government face the same dilemma—how to allocate...

Degree Inflation: Undermining the value of higher education
Steven SchwartzMay 18, 2023AP48

Degree Inflation: Undermining the value of higher education — Executive Summary The past 20 years...

ATAR changes
ATAR’s rising relevance: admission standards and completion rates
Rob JosephFebruary 27, 2023AP44

Join us on Wednesday, 27 March, as we welcome Sarah Powell to CIS to discuss...

Early numeracy screening will help prevent students from falling behind in maths
Kelly Norris, Glenn FaheyAugust 20, 2024ABC.NET.AU

Policymakers are on the verge of a major education reform — early numeracy screening —...

NAPLAN: doom, gloom, and blame
Kelly NorrisAugust 19, 2024SPECTATOR

  The release of NAPLAN data last week unleashed a flurry of doom, gloom and...

Teaching classroom school
Lifting NAPLAN results: what happens in the classroom matters most
Trisha JhaAugust 16, 2024EDUCATIONHQ

Every year, the national release of NAPLAN results triggers a barrage of commentary and soul-searching...

Improve learning outcomes – take NAPLAN seriously
Glenn FaheyAugust 15, 2024THE AUSTRALIAN

The latest NAPLAN data set highlights the urgent need for the education system to set...

NSW curriculum reform a success, but will other ministers follow?
Glenn FaheyJuly 30, 2024THE AUSTRALIAN

The NSW government has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the nation on...

Déjà vu in Australian higher education
Steven SchwartzJuly 4, 2024SPECTATOR FLAT WHITE

History repeats itself, often with a sense of irony only those with long memories can...

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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