School Education Headlines

The National Advocates for Arts Education is calling on the Federal Government to include the arts in the work of the National Curriculum Board and Early Years Learning Framework, saying that the sidelining of subjects such as art and drama deprives students of essential skills for the 21st century. ABC News, 5 January 2009.

Children in WA will be better protected with doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers and midwives now required under law to report in writing suspicions of child sexual abuse. New legislation governing the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse will result in those who fail to report concerns to the Department for Child Protection facing a fine. WA Minister for Child Protection, 1 January 2009.

A pilot program in which teenagers used iPods for school work has increased attendance and enthusiasm for homework. Preliminary research found students were more willing to come to school, did more homework and used their iPods more than laptops or desktop computers. Sydney Morning Herald, 3 January 2009.

Early gaps in ability between children from poor and rich homes is mostly due to the quality of parenting, says a US report. BBC News, 23 December 2008.

The Australian Education Union says the full results of this year's literacy and numeracy tests are a reminder of the need to pay close attention to the nation's most vulnerable students. ABC News, 20 December 2008.

The WA State Government has announced a $4.67million package as the first stage of a comprehensive strategy to boost literacy and numeracy standards. WA Minister for Education, 17 December 2008.

Primary school children in WA, SA, Tas, NSW and the ACT will soon enjoy the benefits of growing, preparing and sharing fresh food, with a demonstration school in these states and territory to be established as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. The program will help tackle the levels of childhood obesity by giving children hands-on experience in healthy eating. Minister for Health and Ageing, 16 December 2008.

A survey of schools in 36 countries shows Australian primary school students suffer bullying at a rate of almost 50 per cent above the international average. ABC News, 14 December 2008.

Schools which did not apply for funding in the first or second round of the Rudd Government's computers in schools program, have the opportunity to apply under the supplementary Round Two process. Minister for Education, 10 December 2008.

The latest results from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) show that Australian Year 4 students have displayed some improvement in mathematics achievement but achievement has declined significantly in Year 8 science. Australian Council for Educational Research, 10 December 2008.

Schools will be asked to place more emphasis on Asian culture, sexual and religious tolerance and personal values such as honesty and respect under new education goals. The Age, 5 December 2008.

High schools must offer flexible timetables allowing students to study part-time and allowing them more than two years to finish their Year 12 studies, to help students juggling work and study, an academic says. University of Western Sydney education professor Margaret Vickers will tell a national forum today that schools must throw out their old notions of study habits and recognise that two in three of their students also work. The Australian, 21 August 2008.

edna's Australian Schools Calendar 2009 is now available in Word format. The printed version of the Calendar will be mailed to Schools in January 2009.

The Federal Government's private schools funding Bill has passed Parliament after the opposition abandoned plans to amend it. Daily Telegraph, 4 December 2008.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard says the Government will 'take every step necessary' to get its $28 billion Schools Assistance bill through the Senate without further changes. ABC News, 4 December 2008.

Top teaching graduates in Queensland will be offered scholarships to work at challenging schools as part of an innovative plan to improve outcomes for students. Queensland Minister for Education, 30 November 2008.

Government primary schools will receive an additional $635 million over the next four years as part of the new National Education Agreement. Minister for Education, 1 December 2008.

The National Curriculum Board is committed to an open process and proper consultation with the profession and the public. The Board has consulted on the issues it raised in the National Curriculum Development Paper, released in June, and now sets down answers to its questions in a new document The Shape of the National Curriculum: A Proposal for Discussion. The Board welcomes public discussion and comments on this discussion paper until 19 December 2008. The Board will determine its final recommendations in Term 1 2009. NCB, December 2009.

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has launched an innovative secondary school resource that will assist science teachers to teach nanotechnology. AccessNano was developed following feedback from science teachers that children were asking to be taught about nanotechnology. Minister for Education, 28 November 2008.

The Federal Government will boost funding for its computers in schools program after complaints from the states and territories that the scheme was under-funded. ABC News, 28 November 2008