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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.

Teaching to the tests
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 13, 2014

Whichever way you look at it, the quality of teaching and, by extension, quality of...

Education funding hasn’t been cut – fantasy has
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 20, 2014ABC The Drum

According to media reports, state governments are up in arms about ‘cuts’ in funding to...

Why can’t wealthy parents pay for public schooling?
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 5, 2014ABC The Drum

A Venn diagram of people who support the idea of high income parents being asked...

Finding savings in education
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 2, 2014

Of the eight ideas proposed in the latest TARGET30 report, the idea to charge high...

Curb education spending now to save hard cuts later
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 30, 2014The Australian

Despite long-term and substantial increases in school funding during the past 25 years, student achievement...

School Funding on a Budget
Jennifer Buckingham OAMApril 30, 2014T30.09

Government expenditure on schools has more than doubled in real terms in the last 25...

The Missing Links: Class Size, Discipline, Inclusion and Teacher Quality
Jennifer Buckingham OAMFebruary 19, 2003IA29

The Vinson Report on Public Education in NSW contains a wealth of information, and makes...

The Unchained University
Andrew NortonNovember 19, 2002PM56

Australia’s universities are not preparing students adequately for their futures. Report author and higher education...

Getting it Right Some of the Time: An Appraisal of the Report on the Inquiry into the Education of Boys
Jennifer Buckingham OAMNovember 14, 2002IA27

The statistical evidence showing that boys have lower literacy levels and lower average performance than...

Families Freedom and Education: Why School Choice Makes Sense
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 24, 2002PM52

Parents have been demonstrating their increasing lack of faith in the public education system for...

The Importance of Teacher Quality
Ken RoweFebruary 28, 2002IA22

The quality of teaching is the single most important influence on students’ academic performance. When...

The Social Foundations of a Free Society
Peter SaundersFebruary 12, 2002OP79

A look at five main areas where current trends may be eroding the free society...

We’ve spent the money, now what about the results?
Blaise JosephFebruary 23, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
We have a great window of opportunity now to finally follow through on education reforms...
Education has become a system designed to issue credentials rather than create knowledge
Steven SchwartzFebruary 10, 2026THE AUSTRALIAN
When a society forgets the difference between learning and performance, between a mind and a...
Science of learning
How revamping education will boost the Australian economy
Trisha JhaJanuary 24, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
If Australia wants productivity growth, it needs to start in the classroom....
Australia’s education system is failing students despite $100bn spending
Fiona MuellerDecember 27, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
Taxpayers know all too well that massive increases in education funding (approaching $100 billion a...
School child reading book
Turning up a first step to success
Trisha JhaDecember 4, 2025DAILY TELEGRAPH
The best that can be said about the latest national attendance data is that things...
Give teachers clarity: Maths curriculum should build the staircase, not set the high jump
Kelly NorrisOctober 28, 2025EDUCATIONHQ

The national review of the F–2 maths curriculum is a welcome chance to put 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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