What's newSchool audits published in QueenslandThe Queensland Government has published teaching and learning audits of all Queensland state schools. The audits, conducted over the past two years, covered 1258 primary, secondary and special schools, schools of distance education and environmental education centres. See statement 28 January 2012 from State Minister of Education, Cameron Dick. Following the release of the audits the Courier-Mail newspaper published details of individual schools' performance on the audits. See responses from the Queensland Teachers' Union and articles in the Courier Mail 28 January, 30 January, 31 January, 1 February and 2 February 2012. Australian Curriculum implementation in WA starts July 2012Western Australian schools will start formal implementation of the new Australian Curriculum for pre-primary to year 10 from July this year. Schools will have three years to fully implement the Phase 1 subjects of English, mathematics, science and history. Continued controversy over school devolution in NSWThe Empowering Local Schools Initiative is being trialled in approximately 1000 schools nationally. The initiative gives principals more control over issues including staff selection, schools budgets, and professional development. See interview with Australian Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, 18 January. The initiative is opposed by the Australian Education Union: see article The Sunday Telegraph 29 January 2012. iPads in Western Australian and Victorian schoolsThe Western Australian Government is to provide almost 900 iPads for students in year 1 and year 2, across 17 public schools. See statement from Minister for Education, Liz Constable, 1 February, report on ABC News 1 February, and article in The West Australian 2 February. The Victorian Government is currently evaluating the iPad trial conducted in selected schools last year. See article in The Age 2 February 2012. Maths and science specialists in Vic schoolsThe Victorian Government has provided 100 new primary teachers specialising in maths and sciences. See statement 1 February 2012 by State Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession, Peter Hall. Board appointed for new School Curriculum and Standards Authority in WAThe inaugural board has been announced for Western Australia's new School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). The new authority will replace the Curriculum Council when the Curriculum Council Amendment Act is proclaimed. See statement 1 February 2012 by State Minister for Education, Elizabeth Constable. NAPLAN results published, attract extensive commentThe 2011 NAPLAN National Report was published in January 2012. The report includes final results by gender, Indigenous status, language background other than English status, parental occupation, parental education, and location (metropolitan, provincial, remote and very remote) at each year level and for each domain of the test. See statements by Australian Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, 23 and 24 January 2012. See also report on ABC News 23 January, article in The West Australian, and article and related article in The Sydney Morning Herald, all 24 January 2012. Survey finds that most Victorian teachers reject performance payA survey of Victorian teachers conducted by the Herald Sun newspaper found that four out of five participants opposed the use of performance pay in the profession. See article 31 January 2012.
|