Australia

COAG Leaders Meeting

The Coalition of Australian Governments Leaders met last week to discuss the challenges facing Australia  and educational reform was an item on its agenda for discussion. In a media release earlier this week Prime Minister Tony Abbott outlined the issues hindering the reform and development of the education system. Despite considerable budgetary increases for resources in recent years, Australian students are falling behind their international counterparts. The State and Territory leaders agreed that the best way to tackle education issues would be to:

• improve the transition from early childhood learning to school;
• consider an earlier start to school;
• establish greater equity in the application of childcare funding to learning for the year before school; and
• improve the standard of teachers, which is critical to delivering better educational outcomes.

Lengthy inquiry into cage for autistic child ‘close’ to completion

The Canberra Times reported that the inquiry launched in April this year into the decision-making process behind a Canberra school erecting a cage for a 10-year-old student with autism is ‘close’ to being released. The inquiry process has taken 16 weeks. ACT opposition education spokesman Steve Doszpot  said that the length of time it has taken is unacceptable and has been ‘destabilising for the school community involved’. The Canberra Times quoted education secretary Glenn Fowler as saying that although all parties are interested in the matter being concluded as swiftly as possible, it cant be at the expense of natural justice and a thorough investigation.

Safe Schools program ordered to stay silent on gay marriage

The Age reports that the government-funded Safe Schools Coalition program that combats homophobia and discrimination in schools, has been ordered to refrain from commenting on the topic of gay marriage. The Safe Schools program is available to schools in Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, Tasmania and now Queensland. The Brisbane Times also reported this week that the Australian Christian Lobby is demanding the Queensland Government cease supporting the Coalition’s anti-bullying program for gay, intersex and gender diverse children, accusing it of promoting ‘radical sexual experimentation’.

 International

New Vulnerable Children Act came into effect July 1 in New Zealand

Police have been inundated with staff safety checks under the new Vulnerable Children Act in New Zealand, the Manawatu Standard reports. New screening processes commenced at the beginning of the month. The Act stipulates that in addition to re-assessment every three years, individuals with serious convictions will be banned from working in core children work force roles, including schools. The vetting and screening is to be phased in, however police are dealing with an ‘unprecedented increase’ in demand for vetting which is delaying the implementation process.

40 School Districts under investigation for handling of student sexual assaults

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating 40 elementary and secondary schools over how they have handled sexual assault among students, the Huffington Postreports. This number has risen from 24 schools in November, which has resulted in the Department asking for more funding to hire additional staff to keep up with the increasing volume of complaints being received. Not only have the number of schools in the review increased, but also the time each investigation is taking, the average being 558 days for a K-12 institution.

A whistleblower teacher takes the school to court over treatment

The Irish Times this week reported that a ‘whistleblower’ teacher who made ‘grave allegations’ against a colleague at a girls’ secondary school is challenging the administration’s treatment of him in the High Court. On Thursday, a judge heard the teacher’s bid for injunctions restraining disciplinary proceedings against him at the school. He is also claiming exemplary damages over his treatment and alleged intentional infliction of emotional damage by the school.

UK’s Education Secretary vows to ease needless bureaucracy for teachers

The Guardian reported  that the UK Education Secretary has promised teachers that she will tackle unnecessary bureaucracy in schools by establishing working groups on marking, lesson planning and pupil data. The Secretary’s announcement comes just days after she suggested banning answering emails after 5pm to reduce workload in one of many attempts to deal with the current recruitment crisis facing the education sector in the UK.