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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.

Unempirical Asian languages alarmism
Benjamin HerscovitchAugust 16, 2012

Reading the recent coverage of the debate about the adequacy of Australia’s Asia literacy, one...

Why our kids still cannot read
Jennifer Buckingham OAMAugust 10, 2012The Australian

THE damning findings of the NSW Auditor-General’s report on indigenous literacy released this week should...

Poor education is letting Indigenous children down
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJuly 6, 2012The Drum

Recently released census Indigenous data for 2011 shows that more than 85 per cent of...

Indigenous education – a poor performer
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 29, 2012

Indigenous education in Australia has made little or no headway since NAPLAN testing began in...

Review of indigenous literacy and numeracy 2008-2011
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 28, 2012ON LINE Opinion

NAPLAN results from across Australia show that Queensland and Western Australia are the only states...

WA can do more in indigenous education
Helen Hughes, Mark HughesJune 27, 2012The West Australian

WA is on its way to reducing indigenous literacy and numeracy failure rates, which will...

Implementing the Science of Learning: teacher experiences
Trisha JhaFebruary 22, 2024RR47

Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Background and policy context A pathway for advancing the...

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...

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...

Facing Up To Maths Anxiety: How It Affects Achievement And What Can Be Done About It
David C. GearyJanuary 23, 2024AP61

Executive summary The mathematical competencies of students have a long-term influence on their employability and...

Job-ready Graduates 2.0: The Universities Accord and centralised control of universities and courses
Andrew NortonNovember 16, 2023AP58

Summary Australia’s graduate labour market does not always seem to function well. Graduates with degrees...

The Need For Speed: why fluency counts for maths learning
Toni Hatten-RobertsOctober 19, 2023AP57

1. Introduction Australia has a problem in maths achievement which is shown in stark relief...

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...

Woke ‘sense and sensibilities’ replace reason and logic
Glenn Fahey, Claire Fox, Tanveer AhmedAugust 27, 2021

Schools and universities have become preoccupied with cushioning students’ experiences, rather than challenging them. The...

Is technology our educational saviour?
Glenn Fahey, Jamie Beaton, Wayne Houlden, John HattieJuly 15, 2021

A free and open marketplace for education technology has the potential to deliver innovative solutions...

On Liberty EP53 Australians reject identity politics
Glenn Fahey, Bella D’AbreraJune 2, 2021On Liberty

We talked to Institute of Public Affairs’ Dr Bella d’Abrera. Speaking with The Australian recently,...

Scaling up success in majority Indigenous schools
Glenn Fahey, Noel Pearson, Alan TudgeJune 2, 2021

One of Australia’s most pressing public-policy challenges is to overcome poor education outcomes suffered by...

On Liberty EP48 Education or Enstupidation? English in the Curriculum
Salvatore Babones, Fiona MuellerApril 28, 2021On Liberty

How can students be expected to develop into intellectual adults if they are never exposed...

Advancing Indigenous Education Outcomes
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Lorraine Hammond, Glenn Fahey, Nyunggai Warren Mundine AOJanuary 12, 2021

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

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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