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.

What is the Science of Learning? By Trisha Jha.
Trisha JhaFebruary 21, 2024Research Collection

What is the Science of Learning? By Trisha Jha. Listen to all our research here:...

Our education system is underperfoming but there could be a chance to fix that
Glenn FaheyFebruary 19, 2024CANBERRA TIMES

Canberra’s parents — and taxpayers — must wake up to the inconvenient truth that its...

science of learning, learning, education, learning styles,
What is the Science of Learning?
Trisha JhaFebruary 15, 2024AP63

Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Politics, philosophy and education Progressive education versus modern evidence...

Don’t blame the COVID pandemic for truancy
Glenn FaheyFebruary 8, 2024AFR

Don’t blame the COVID pandemic for truancy. Sliding attendance of Australia’s school students is a...

Education policy must mature beyond calls for more money
Glenn FaheyFebruary 3, 2024THE AUSTRALIAN

Education policy must mature from being dominated by demands for more funding and instead focus...

Maths Practices You Can Count On: Five Research-Validated Practices in Mathematics
Sarah Powell, Sarah King, Sarah BenzFebruary 1, 2024AP62

Introduction An understanding of mathematics gained during primary and secondary school is essential for...

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...

Five ways unis can advance free expression
Steven SchwartzSeptember 29, 2018The Australian

If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they...

Punish universities if they won’t protect freedom of speech
Tom SwitzerSeptember 22, 2018The Sydney Morning Herald

In 1932, a student group at the University of Chicago invited the US Communist Party...

It’s official: Australia spends more than enough on schools
Blaise JosephSeptember 21, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

The education debate at the next federal election is shaping up to be about the...

Free speech charters must be more than words
Jeremy SammutSeptember 21, 2018Ideas@TheCentre

Federal Education Minister, Dan Tehan, has proposed that Australian universities be required to adopt new...

Uni free speech charters must be more than mere words
Jeremy SammutSeptember 20, 2018The Daily Telegraph

Federal education minister Dan Tehan has proposed that Australian universities be required to adopt new...

Parents need NAPLAN data, not states hiding school performance
Jennifer Buckingham OAMSeptember 19, 2018Australian Financial Review

NAPLAN and My School were introduced for good reasons and continue to serve an important...

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 NAPLAN Reporting Review 2019
Blaise Joseph, Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 18, 2019

NAPLAN is a key element of government transparency and accountability There is very little evidence...

Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee Inquiry into The Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017
Blaise JosephMay 24, 2017CIS Submission
Productivity Commission Inquiry Into Introducing Competition and Informed User Choice into Human Services: Submission in response to issues paper
Trisha JhaJuly 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Human Services Inquiry is ‘examining policy options in the human services sector that incorporate...

Productivity Commission Inquiry into the National Education Evidence Base: Submission in response to the draft report
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 1, 2016CIS Submission

The Review of Education Evidence (Draft Report)—the ‘Draft Report’—provides a useful, up-to-date overview of the...

Submission to the Parliament of NSW Standing Committee on State Development: Inquiry into economic development in Aboriginal communities
Sara HudsonFebruary 12, 2016CIS Submission

In seeking to improve Indigenous economic development outcomes it is important to recognise that high...

Submission to the National Commission of Audit
Alexander Philipatos, Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Jeremy Sammut, Robert Carling, Simon Cowan, Stephen Kirchner, Trisha JhaApril 1, 2014T30.08

The federal government’s Commission of Audit (CoA) was established in 2013 to review the performance...

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