AUSTRALIA 

Daraprim drug's key ingredient recreated by high school students in Sydney for just $20

ABC News reported on the achievements of students from Sydney Grammar, who successfully created active ingredients of an expensive US drug in their school laboratory. In August 2015, the price of Daraprim, a drug used to treat parasitic infection in pregnant women and HIV patients, rose from $US13.50 to $US750 per tablet, after the exclusive rights were purchased by Turing Pharmaceuticals. The students, who were supported by a University of Sydney researcher chemist, hoped to draw attention to this inflated price which they described as ‘ridiculous’.

Schools evacuated across Australia over threatening phone calls

The Age reported on the evacuation of schools across Australia and New Zealand late last week, after threatening phone calls were received. At least a dozen Victorian schools were evacuated, some taking precautionary measures due to their close proximity to schools which had received calls. Some parents complained they were not properly notified, after Emergency Minister James Merlino pledged in February to fund an instant SMS service in school emergency situations.

Royal Commission reveals more than 80 church offenders preyed on Hunter children

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, more than 80 Catholic/Anglican Church priests and other representatives  are alleged to have committed sexual abuse against Hunter children for decades. The newly released data by the Royal Commission reveals that significant compensation was paid to victims in confidential settlements, much higher than victims in other known child sexual abuse hot spots. However, the data also shows significant under-reporting and small compensation payouts in a number of instances.

Student support workers sent home over working with vulnerable people cards

In a Sunday Tasmanian report, many student support staff, including groundsmen and teacher aides, have been sent home because they do not have a working with vulnerable people card, even after they became a legislative requirement on September 1. New figures show thousands of Tasmanian teachers are also yet to get their cards, less than a month before they become mandatory. The Opposition has criticised the Government, stating that staff and schools have been placed in an untenable position.

The 10 year funding plan Australia needs to fix TIMSS maths and science results

The Australian Financial Review reported on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study report, which showed that Years 4 and 8 students have not improved in maths or science performance despite clear progress in many other countries. Around 30% of students do not meet the international intermediate benchmarks for mathematics and science respectively. The article argues for a big picture analysis of the education sector – from early childhood to higher education – to inform a long-term plan for improvement focussing on funding and teacher quality.

Aussie Kids To Get School Experiments Blasted Into Orbit

The Huffington Post wrote on the upcoming launch of space startup Cuberider’s first delivery to the International Space Station. The payload contains thousands of experiments from 60 schools nationwide, on a variety of topics, in an effort to get kids interested in space and science. Astronauts on the ISS will unpack the projects and participants can follow the progress back on Earth. However, Cuberider’s program is very expensive, with schools charged $5 per month per student, and experiments costing $1000 for every 15 minutes in space.

INTERNATIONAL

UK: False news stories about schools and teachers shared by thousands

In an article in The Telegraph, schools and teachers reportedly are growing concerned over false claims published on hoax/prank news websites which are then shared on social media. One false story, suggesting a teacher had sex with a pupil, was shared 73,000 times; another alleged a teacher kidnapped a student. A head teacher claimed dealing with a false report takes up to 20 hours a week, with many parents and pupils erroneously believing the articles to be authentic.

US: To Kill a Mockingbird removed from Virginia schools for racist language

The Guardian reported that two literary classics, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, have been suspended from the curriculum in some Virginia schools, after a formal complaint was made about their use of racial slurs. While a permanent ban has not yet been placed, a number of classrooms have already removed the books. The National Coalition Against Censorship has argued against the move, saying that the books give historical understanding and that schools should not avoid discussion of controversial issues.

UK: School bans pupils from putting up hands to answer questions in classroom 'gimmick'

The Telegraph has also reported on a school abolishing the practice of raising hands to answer questions, reportedly because it does not ‘challenge and support the learning of all’. The school will reportedly adopt alternative techniques which enable all students the opportunity to contribute and participate. The move has received criticism by parents, staff, and the National Union of Teachers, for being a gimmick, suppressing student enthusiasm and showing disrespect to teachers.