The information in the Weekly Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the education sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of CompliSpace.

AUSTRALIA

Home learning for another two weeks after Sydney lockdown extended

The Australian reports that students across NSW will need to continue learning from home for at least two more weeks as the state’s Covid-19 situation worsens. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said home learning would need to continue until at least Friday, July 30. It comes as the state posted 97 new infections on Wednesday. “We‘ll obviously assess the situation at the end of those two weeks and provide information beyond that,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday morning. “Home learning will continue in those areas where it’s (already) home learning for at least another two weeks”. Ms Berejiklian said the Department of Education had already started putting homeschooling measures in place. “They have orally spoken to the public schools and independent schools to make sure there are contingencies there,” she said.

When normal school is not enough: Aussie kids sign up to new online high

The Age reports that Crimson Global Academy was founded last year by 26-year-old New Zealander and Harvard graduate Jamie Beaton, who modelled the idea on the Stanford Online High School for gifted students in the United States. There are now 370 students aged between 10 and 18 from more than 20 countries, including Japan and Kazakhstan, he said. New Zealand is the biggest market, followed by Australia. Teachers come from all over, including Australia. Almost half of the classes are accelerated, and more than three quarters of students attend CGA on top of their physical school. The students can work towards international versions of Britain’s GCSE and A-Level school-leaving qualifications, or the American Advanced Placement exams, opening doors to universities in the United States and United Kingdom. NSW already has an official online high school, Aurora College, which is run by the NSW Department of Education.

Indigenous education programs need of a rethink – study

The Educator reports that ongoing efforts to close the achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students require a new approach by education policymakers, a new report has found. An analysis published by Dr Kevin Lowe of UNSW (and associates) reveals that barriers of indifference, resourcing, and leadership have worked to limit students’ ability to access quality language and cultural programmes. Dr Lowe’s paper, “School-based Indigenous cultural programs and their impact on Australian Indigenous students”, considered the fact that while state and territories around Australia are attempting to shift the gap of underachievement for Indigenous students, programs currently in place are patently not working. “The role of school leaders – which we have taken to be more than just the principal, as we see a clear pattern of success when either school-based Aboriginal staff take a leadership role, or a community elder works closely with the school – were paramount to the success of programs,” Dr Lowe told The Educator.

Call to put First Nations educators in every primary school

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Aunty Phyllis Marsh says one of the best things about teaching students First Nations culture is seeing their responses of wonder and awe. She has seen significant changes in children’s cultural understanding and ability to appreciate different ways of life. Ms Marsh has been working as a First Nations cultural educator at West Moreton Anglican College in south-east Queensland for three years, and is part of the newly launched Know Your Country campaign. Led by First Nations people and organisations and convened by World Vision, the campaign is asking all levels of government to give $363 million a year to employ a First Nations cultural educator in each of the country’s 6249 primary schools. World Vision First Nations policy adviser Dr Scott Winch said that, while some schools already have First Nations educators, a national program would help to tackle racism, upskill teachers, foster true reconciliation and bridge the knowledge gap on Indigenous history.

Growing number of Aboriginal communities setting up independent schools to teach “both ways”

The ABC News reports that the students from the independent Nawarddeken Academy receive full-time education in a new style "two-way" curriculum that blends their culture and language with Western numeracy and literacy. The curriculum has delivered attendance rates that hover between 80 and 95 per cent, as well as increased student engagement, and boosted the number of students who complete their allocated work. It's part of a quiet revolution in the Northern Territory where a growing number of Aboriginal communities are seeking "both ways" education. An increasing number of Aboriginal communities have been seeking more culturally appropriate forms of education, often through independent schools. The Nawarddeken Academy's success with just two full-time teachers has prompted calls by the nearby outstations of Manmoyi and Mamadawerre for it to take over their schools from the Northern Territory Government.

Why remote learning is a high risk time for cyberattacks

The Educator reports that, in recent years, instances of cyberattacks against schools have been on the rise, putting sensitive student data at risk of hackers. However, in 2020, as the entire education system was transitioning to remote learning, the risks ballooned. Hackers have capitalised on the chaos caused by this transition by finding new ways to attack students and teachers who are now more vulnerable than ever. Last Thursday, this threat was put in the spotlight when the NSW Department of Education was hit by a cyberattack, just hours after it was announced that the state’s schools should prepare for remote learning in the wake of the extended COVID-19 lockdowns. With education being one of the most breached sectors when it comes to cyberattacks, efforts are underway to ensure that critical data held by education departments is more heavily protected. Hayley Turner, Director of Industrial Security, APAC at Darktrace, said that, while the exact motivations of the attack remain unknown, it is unsurprising that the education department has been targeted.

New resource helps schools build common student wellbeing framework

The Educator reports that, according to research conducted by Schools Plus, over 38 per cent of respondents said mental health and wellbeing was their primary priority – ahead of literacy and numeracy, STEM, and family and community engagement. Of schools significantly impacted by COVID-19, this number shot up to 50 per cent. Indeed, the education sector has been tracking the mental health of both students and staff more proactively since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia 18 months ago. In response to these findings, the Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) has developed the Promoting and Protecting Student Wellbeing and Mental Health self-paced learning experience, which explores multi-faceted support for student wellbeing and mental health, promoting proactive, whole-school processes as well as examining responsive support for individual students who may require additional attention.

Tips for teachers to encourage positive body image for students

The Educator reports that, in our image obsessed society, the pressures on young people to “look good” are almost omnipresent, and this is having serious implications for how they think and feel about their body image. However, before society can address this issue, those who are in a position to intervene early and prevent it from snowballing – namely parents and teachers – have a responsibility to understand body image and its many positive – and negative – effects on young people. Research has shown that having a role model who is older and of the same gender can both inspire and empower young people, and this is certainly true when it comes to the issue of body image. Another helpful practice is for teachers to introduce young people to a wide range of images that reflect diverse physical abilities, body sizes and outward appearances. Research has shown that teaching young people to think positively about themselves can help develop a positive self-image that doesn't focus entirely on appearance.

Young teachers “champing at the bit” to get COVID jabs

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, as schools were preparing for term three, and with the loosening of restrictions announced on Wednesday last week, meaning masks are not mandatory in the classroom, there are continued calls for Victoria’s 138,000 school staff to be recognised as front-line workers and fast-tracked for vaccination. Education unions and principal bodies say this would help protect students and staff, particularly those younger ones who are further back in the vaccination queue, and reduce the risk of further school shutdowns if COVID-19 re-emerges in Victoria. Independent Schools Victoria said there was a “strong case” for school staff to have vaccine priority because they “perform a front-line task and many feel vulnerable”. There are large numbers of teachers aged under 40, and a smaller percentage of that age group have been vaccinated than in older groups.

Is it more infectious? Is it spreading in schools? This is what we know about the Delta variant and kids

According to an article in The Conversation, overall, increased transmission among children and young people may partly be due to the Delta variant. But also, in countries like the UK, these age groups are most susceptible to infection because older groups have been largely vaccinated. While we don’t yet have data on the severity of illness in children associated with the Delta variant specifically, we know with COVID generally, kids are much less likely to become very unwell. There does appear to be more transmission in schools. While outbreaks in schools are increasing, the vast majority of transmission still occurs in households. Recent school outbreaks highlight why it’s so important adults of all ages, especially parents and teachers, get vaccinated. The United States, Canada, and a few countries in Europe are already vaccinating children over 12. Australia’s drug regulator is currently weighing this up. For now, we should continue to vaccinate adults in priority groups. As we grapple with the benefits and risks for teenagers, it’s also worth asking them if they want to be vaccinated and why.

Return of international students under threat, again

The Australian Financial Review reports that state governments may be forced to postpone well-advanced plans to bring international students into the country after Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision the Friday before last to halve the number of Australians allowed to return home, experts say. Yet another aborted plan to bring in foreign students could severely damage Australia’s reputation as a destination of choice, crippling revenue streams into universities and colleges. Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, argued a lot was riding on the return of international students but said public anger could stand in the way. A spokeswoman for the Federal Education Department said the Government was in discussions with all states and territories about the return of international students “when conditions allow”. International students are outside the Federal Government’s arrival caps, with their travel arranged on chartered flights and quarantine completed in student-specific accommodation.

INTERNATIONAL

“We're setting a new standard”: Illinois becomes first US state to mandate Asian-American history in public schools (United States)

SBS News reports that Illinois Governor J B Pritzker signed a bill last Friday requiring public schools to teach Asian-American history, the first such step by a US state amid rising concerns about violence against people of Asian descent. The bill mandates the teaching of a unit of Asian-American history in public elementary and high schools starting in the 2022-2023 school year. Led by advocacy group Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Chicago, supporters had been promoting the bill since early 2020. But it gained traction in the state legislature following the deadly attacks on Asian women in the Atlanta area in March. The Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act says the curriculum should include teaching of the efforts made by Asian Americans to advance civil rights, as well as their contributions to the arts and sciences and to the economic and cultural development of the country.

Pressed about air quality in schools, province vows to install CO2 detectors starting this fall (Canada)

The CBC News reports that many of Quebec's 48,000 classrooms will not be equipped with carbon dioxide detectors at the start of the upcoming school year, but the Education Ministry says installation will begin "during the fall of 2021." Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors track the quality of the air students are breathing and should help the province limit the spread of COVID-19 within classrooms. This year, opposition parties at the National Assembly have heavily scrutinised the Legault government, accusing Education Minister Jean-François Roberge of not taking the issue of air quality in schools seriously enough. In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for the province's Education Ministry said the equipment will be installed "quickly", but did not specify when each classroom in Quebec would have one. Last month, Mr Roberge stated that as long as 75 per cent of Quebecers between the ages of 12 and 17 had received a first vaccine dose against COVID-19, students could go back to school without having to either wear masks or physically distance.

Thousands of teachers' practising certificates to be reissued after High Court ruling (New Zealand)

Radio NZ reports that the Teaching Council is reissuing thousands of teachers' practising certificates. The High Court last week quashed the council's move in February to annual certification. The Court's judgement said the Council had not consulted teachers properly on the change and was charging teachers for costs it was not permitted to charge for. The Council said from Monday it would provide three-year certificates. It will also replace about 12,000 annual certificates that have been issued since February. In February, the Council moved from triennial certificate renewal at a cost of $220 to annual renewal at a cost of $157 per year. That means the change will reduce the cost of certification to teachers by more than half, creating a shortfall in Council income likely to run to millions of dollars. The Court decision said the Council had warned it faced insolvency if it were forced to drop its new, annual certification system and fees.