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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.

Why are Australia’s PISA results so bad? Blame mediocre education standards and poor teaching
Blaise JosephDecember 3, 2019The Daily Telegraph

When did we become a nation satisfied with mediocrity? The latest international education rankings confirm...

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...

Co-ed vs  ‘education apartheid’
Blaise JosephNovember 29, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Many progressive advocates would welcome single-sex schools becoming extinct as alleged “educational apartheid.” Nevertheless, Australia...

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...

Parents give school policies poor report card
Glenn FaheyNovember 22, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Parents are generally satisfied with how much money their child’s school has, but they don’t...

Crunch time at the chalkface for reading, writing skills
Fiona MuellerNovember 21, 2019The Australian

That overarching question posed by the ALP’s review of the federal election also should be...

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...

Indigenous university students are quietly making the grade
Joe LaneMay 22, 2009

Contrary to popular myths, Indigenous students in mainstream society, representing the majority of Indigenous children...

The gap between us
May 20, 2009The Australian

At the budget lock-up for education last week, vice-chancellors and ministers enjoyed some rare moments...

Commonwealth government fails remote Indigenous students
Helen HughesMay 15, 2009

The second round of National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests took place...

What this week’s NAPLAN tests mean for Indigenous Education
Helen HughesMay 8, 2009

This week all Australian children in school years 3, 5, 7 and  9 sat numeracy...

Private hurdle for kids
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 21, 2009The Australian

The number of school students with disabilities is increasing every year. The government school sector...

RIP Private Education?
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMarch 13, 2009

Over the last few months there has been a lot of speculation about whether the...

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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