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.

In defence of the HSC
Blaise JosephNovember 8, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Undoubtedly, the Higher School Certificate is hard. But final exams are not intended to be...

Put teachers to the test to get better results for students
Glenn FaheyNovember 4, 2019Financial Review

Governments claim to be ‘outcomes-driven’ in most areas of policy, with school funding in NSW...

Mandatory maths won’t STEM decline
Fiona MuellerNovember 1, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Even with 400 hours of secondary school mathematics under their belts, it seems that Year...

Outcomes-based school funding easier said than done
Glenn FaheyOctober 25, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

There’s good reason to support government rhetoric about becoming more ‘outcomes-driven’. Who doesn’t want “an...

Future generations will be let down if reforms are just the latest fad
Fiona MuellerOctober 23, 2019The Sydney Morning Herald

Few will argue with the NSW Curriculum Review’s overarching finding that change is needed. Far...

Dumbing Down the ‘Smart Country’
Fiona MuellerOctober 8, 2019Quadrant

Another federal election and the passing of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke have revived...

Scaling up success in majority Indigenous schools
Noel PearsonJuly 8, 2021OP182

Addressing the Centre for Independent Studies, Noel Pearson outlines his insights and observations from decades...

Mind the Gap: Understanding the Indigenous education gap and how to close it
Glenn FaheyJune 24, 2021RR41

Indigenous education disadvantage remains among the most pressing and persistent public policy challenges in Australia....

Confronting Indigenous educational disadvantage: A Kimberley perspective
Lorraine HammondMarch 24, 2021AP20

Overcoming Indigenous education disadvantage is possible with the right teaching approaches and school policies. It...

A 2021 education resolution: keep an eye on the Australian Curriculum
Fiona MuellerFebruary 11, 2021OP179

The COVID-19 pandemic is stimulating debate about the relationship between the governed and their leaders,...

Worlds Apart: Remote Indigenous disadvantage in the context of wider Australia
Jacinta Nampijinpa PriceJanuary 25, 2021PP34

Remote and very remote Indigenous communities have become victims of a ‘wicked problem’. A combination...

Dollars and Sense: Time for smart reform of Australian school funding
Glenn FaheyDecember 1, 2020RR40

Australia is among the world’s highest-spending countries on schooling. Yet, the educational return on this...

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...

Stronger Maths Starts With Early Screening
Kelly Norris, Randall EvansFebruary 7, 2025

In Australia, a significant number of students struggle with mathematics, with many falling behind early...

What is the Science of Learning? | Trisha Jha
Trisha Jha, Randall EvansJanuary 23, 2025

If we want to children to learn, we have to teach them in a way...

The Secret to Fixing Education Standards | Nick Gibb
Nick Gibb, Glenn FaheyNovember 21, 2024

Nick Gibb, the UK’s long-serving Schools Minister, shares insights into the transformative education reforms in...

Support CIS Research in 2024
Tom SwitzerJune 12, 2024

Donate or become a member below! Donate Today

...
How to fix bad behaviour in schools | Tom Bennett
Glenn Fahey, Professor Tom BennettMay 28, 2024

Australian classrooms are some of the worst behaved in the world. The girls are stressed...

How to reward teachers for better educational outcomes
Edmund StephenApril 16, 2024

Unfortunately, we cannot simply throw money at all of our problems, as we have learned...

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...

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