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• Curriculum

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...

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...

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...

Solving wicked problems
Fiona MuellerOctober 4, 2019Ideas@TheCentre

Education is a ‘wicked problem’ if you go by Australian Public Service Commission criteria. The...

Something rotten in the state of education
Blaise JosephSeptember 15, 2019Financial Review

We spend more money on education than most other countries. We pay our teachers considerably...

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...

Sharpening teacher tools: Creating an evidence-based standard for quality instructional materials
Jarrod CarterMay 23, 2024AP69

Executive summary Every Australian classroom and school rely on the support of instructional materials in...

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...

Teaching Behaviour: How Classroom Conduct Can Unlock Better Learning
Tim McDonaldSeptember 28, 2023AP55

Introduction In Australia, and in education settings across the world, student behaviour and levels of...

Myths That Undermine Maths Teaching
Sarah Powell, Elizabeth M. Hughes, Corey PeltierAugust 11, 2022AP38

Myths about learning and teaching maths continue to plague classroom practice despite consistent lack of...

Teaching National Shame: History and citizenship in the school curriculum
Joanna WilliamsJuly 28, 2022OP189
This paper examines the impact of changing approaches to teaching history and citizenship on the...
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...
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...

If we catch them young, kids will solve our numeracy crisis
Glenn FaheyOctober 23, 2025SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
How do we fix the alarming decline in numeracy among young Australians? The answer is...
How not to waste Gonski school funding
Trisha JhaFebruary 19, 2025AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
Additional federal money may unfortunately extend and expand inefficient and ineffective practices rather than lift...
maths, anxiety, maths anxiety, policy, education
Do the maths or we’ll never be a STEM superpower
Glenn FaheyDecember 12, 2024THE AUSTRALIAN

Calls for Australia to become a STEM superpower will never be answered unless our students...

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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 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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