Changing Australian Education

The subtitle to this book by Alan Reid is 'How policy is taking us backwards and what can be done about it'.

In this book Alan Reid looks at the current state of Australian education policy and the need to change, the problems with Australian education policy, discusses changing the education narrative including the process for thinking about the future of education in Australia then suggests new policy directions specifically for Australian education.

In the first section of the book the author outlines his concerns about the way education in Australia and other countries is evaluated. He discusses at length the world wide education evaluation programs, particularly the standardised testing that occurs in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Fifteen year old students from a selection of schools from 72 countries (2015) sit scientific literacy tests plus reading literacy or mathematical literacy tests. PISA testing occurs every three years and the tables are constructed providing current world rankings and whether a country has moved up or down the ladder. [The results of the 2018 tests were recently announced resulting in media concern about the state of education in Australia compared with the rest of the world - article in Sydney Morning Herald 6 December 2018] Alan Reid argues how PISA provides inaccurate readings of Australian educational outcomes especially as the tests are held on a narrow section of the curriculum, the current tests are done on computer which benefits some students over others, only a selection of schools in a selection of countries take part and in some cases a country is represented by one city or region, styles of education vary from country to country and generally the tests do not provide a reading of educational standards generally. The style of education in schools varies greatly in different countries as we have seen when comparing education in some countries with the emphasis on achieving the highest results with schools in Australia where students are encouraged to participate in sport and other interests as well as their studies.

At present education policy appears to be largely designed to address the results of PISA and the Australian NAPLAN tests rather than the needs of individual students allowing them to receive a good general education. One of the outcomes should be to prepare students to participate actively in the future development of our country.

This is the 21st century and Alan Reid strongly suggests that people actively engaged with the education of young people should have a strong say in the formation of the public education policy in this country, rather than bureaucrats and politicians devising policies in reaction to standardised tests that may not have much validity except to create a story for the press.

An interesting look at education in Australia today with suggestions as to how a better, more equitable system could be devised to benefit the range of students in Australia.

NB Once this period of home education ends due to COVID-19 it will be interesting to view any changes that then flow on to education in Australian schools.