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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.

More spending not a poll winner
Blaise JosephMay 24, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

A significant proportion of Australians would rather have lower taxes than more spending on public...

NAPLAN is much more gain than pain
Blaise JosephMay 16, 2019DAILY TELEGRAPH

It’s that time of the school year again. NAPLAN has started, and so have the...

Let’s not undermine NAPLAN but make it even better
Blaise JosephMay 15, 2019The Australian

Some people don’t want the school system to be accountable to parents­. But they forget...

Liberty & Society 2019 | Sydney
Claire Lehmann, Andrew Norton, Gary Banks, Ben O’NeillMay 10, 2019

2019 marked the 23rd year of Liberty & Society. L&S is a unique conference program...

School suspensions not always bad
Blaise JosephMay 10, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Schools should have high expectations for student behaviour. And the harsh reality is that this...

Technology is not a substitute for quality teaching
Blaise JosephMay 5, 2019Financial Review

Teachers aren’t going to be replaced by robots. If there are only a few professions...

A House Divided: The AFRB and China’s Subnational Diplomacy in Australia
Salvatore BabonesNovember 12, 2020AP17

This paper examines China’s subnational diplomacy in Australia and the suitability of Australia’s Foreign Relations...

Parents’ perspectives on home-based learning in the covid-19 pandemic
Glenn Fahey, Blaise JosephSeptember 30, 2020AP15

School closures during the covid-19 pandemic temporarily shifted schooling from the classroom to the home....

Pain without gain: Why school closures are bad policy
Blaise Joseph, Glenn FaheyMay 24, 2020PP28

The decision by state and territory governments to strongly advise parents to keep their children...

Australia’s Export Exposure to China’s Coronavirus Epidemic
Salvatore BabonesFebruary 18, 2020AP7

This paper estimates the direct and immediate effects of the coronavirus epidemic on the revenues...

What Do Parents Want From Schools?
Glenn FaheyNovember 20, 2019PP26

Educational freedom and proper use of resources are both crucial in producing the best outcomes...

What Do Parents Want? Australian childcare preferences and attitudes
Eugenie Joseph, Fiona MuellerSeptember 10, 2019PP22

Many Australian families rely on formal and informal childcare to enable them to take on...

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...

Outsmart Your Brain | Daniel Willingham | Glenn Fahey
Glenn Fahey, Mr Daniel WillinghamMay 8, 2023
Outsmart Your Brain...
2023 NSW State Election: Education Debate
Sarah Mitchell, Prue Car, Glenn FaheyMarch 16, 2023
CIS welcomed NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and NSW Shadow Education Minister, Prue Car for...
Emily Hanford: Sold A Story
Emily Hanford, Glenn FaheyFebruary 3, 2023
We welcomed Investigative education reporter and host of the ground-breaking Sold a Story podcast, Emily...
Building world-class schools in Australia
Katharine Birbalsingh, Alan Tudge, Glenn Fahey, Manisha GazulaNovember 7, 2022
CIS Education program director Glenn Fahey is joined for a discussion on improving schools in...
katharine birbalsingh event at CIS on schools
The Michaela Way
Katharine BirbalsinghOctober 27, 2022

It’s no secret that Australian schools’ performance has been in decline for many years. That’s...

Debunking Maths Myths
Sarah Powell, Oliver Lovell, Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Glenn FaheySeptember 29, 2022
Leading mathematics teaching experts Sarah Powell and Ollie Lovell sat down with Glenn Fahey to...
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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