This Month
Former Plibersek adviser appointed to top universities job
Luke Sheehy will head Universities Australia just as the first major review of the sector is due to be made public.
- Julie Hare
- Opinion
- Schools
Australia’s science curriculum is not broken
The performance of science students has stopped declining as resources from private publishers became available to teachers. Investing more in what is working will be far more productive than starting from scratch.
- Alan Finkel
Brian Schmidt on the double-edged sword of leadership
After eight years at the helm of Australian National University, Brian Schmidt says he’s been hit by everything – except locusts.
- Julie Hare
How much difference a high ATAR can make to your salary
Analysis of ATO data shows people who left school with very high ATARs go on to earn on average $33,000 a year more than their less brilliant peers by age 30.
- Julie Hare
Quadrant locks in refi for Junior Adventure Group
Street Talk understands existing lender Barings came in for a larger slice of the debt, which was due to expire in June 2024.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- University
The Ivy League’s Bill Clinton moment
Not since the former president was asked about having sex with Monica Lewinsky and replied, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” has there been such parsing.
- Maureen Dowd
Why regional higher education is so difficult to tackle
After 12 years at the helm of La Trobe University, John Dewar maintains that regional education is still the most complex policy nut to crack.
- Julie Hare
- Opinion
- Vocational training
Three strong reasons why university is not the only option
It’s time to embrace a broader view of post-school choices and recognise apprenticeships as a savvy choice for Australia’s brightest minds.
- Gary Workman
I went to Newington and want my son to learn with girls. Here’s why
Witnesses say opponents of Newington College’s plan to admit girls blew raspberries at supporters during a heated meeting of parents at the school this week.
- Updated
- Samantha Hutchinson
- Exclusive
- Private schools
‘Unimaginable’: Newington mum speaks out against co-ed plan
A decision to admit girls to 160-year-old private boys’ school Newington College in Sydney has been a lightning rod for the broader community.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Absenteeism, bad behaviour compound poor school performance
Disengaged parenting, disruptive classroom behaviour and growing levels of absenteeism are having a devastating impact on school performance.
- Julie Hare
Australian schools halt slide as kids shrug off pandemic setbacks
In a twist of fate, a big decline in performance in several key countries has helped push Australian students further up the academic assessment ladder.
- Updated
- Julie Hare
- Opinion
- PISA
Only rich kids prosper from their education. That has to change
Australia’s 2022 PISA results look good, but in reality they raise more questions than answers.
- Julie Hare
Newington parents take fight against coeducation to speech night
More than 400 Newington College parents have joined a new group dedicated to fighting the 160-year-old private school’s plan to become coeducational.
- Samantha Hutchinson
- Analysis
- Education
Australian students’ PISA scores expected to ring alarm bells
A lot is riding on the results of the academic performance of Australia’s 15-year-olds when they are released on Tuesday. Here’s why.
- Julie Hare
For these exceptional uni students, scholarship opens locked doors
The Order of Australia Association Foundation has awarded its 2023 scholarships. For all of them, it opens opportunities they had previously written off.
- Lucy Dean
How to fix Aussie kids’ dire classroom behaviour
Australian children are among the worst-behaved at school. A senate report has come up with some solutions.
- Julie Hare
November
Is a university degree really worth it?
This week on The Fin podcast, education editor Julie Hare on why young Australians are losing faith in the value of uni and whether the government can turn it around.
The Chinese students primed to deliver soft power
Thirty high-achieving international students are being given an insight into how Australia’s democracy works.
- Julie Hare
Why Australian school kids are failing
Australia’s national curriculum could be the very reason why kids are going backwards compared to their peers internationally.
- Julie Hare
