Archived News for Education Sector Professionals - September, 2011
Over 90 per cent of students that participated in the national literacy and numeracy tests this year achieved the national standard according to preliminary results published by the Federal Government.
Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, said the preliminary Summary Report for the 2011 NAPLAN tests revealed the state-by-state results in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT produced the highest results across all year levels and areas tested for the third consecutive year, with the ACT having the highest mean scale score for reading, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy at all year levels. Other states showed significant improvement, including Queensland and Western Australia.
Record rates of skill training in WA
An interim report card issued by the Western Australian Government’s Training WA body shows that a record number of people are undertaking skills training in Western Australia.
Queensland brings early childhood education reform before parliament
The Queensland State Government has introduced new laws before Parliament that will aim to lift standards in Queensland’s early childhood education and care sector as part of a broader national quality improvement agenda.
Eureka award winners announced
The Australian Museum has presented this year's Eureka Prizes, recognising the country's top scientific researchers & innovators, science leaders, and leaders in school science and science journalism & communication.
South Australia developing STEM strategy
The South Australian Government is developing a cross-government strategy to increase the supply of people taking up careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields to meet the future needs of local industry.
Federal Government announces $30 million for educational equality
The Federal Government has announced a $30 million cash injection to improve literacy and numeracy results of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in over 100 schools across the country.
QS World University Rankings published
The United Kingdom and USA have once again dominated the top 20 in the annual Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, with the University of Cambridge taking out the first place, followed by a litany of world-renowned British and American universities.
New advisory group on school students with disabilities announced
The Federal Government has announced that the formation of the new Schools Disability Advisory Council to provide ongoing, expert advice to the government on how to better support students with disabilities.
Schools to be given choice over chaplaincy program
The Federal Government has announced that schools will be able to choose the type of support they require under the National School Chaplaincy Program.
USQ Vice-Chancellor announces retirement
The University of Southern Queensland’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove has announced his retirement from the position at the end of 2011.
As the University's longest serving Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Lovegrove said he had confirmed his intention to retire at the end of this year.
USQ Chancellor Mrs Bobbie Brazil said that Professor Lovegrove will formally retire from his position on 31 December 2011.
The Chancellor thanked Professor Lovegrove for the contribution he has made to the University and wished him well for the future.
'Professor Lovegrove has led the University of the past eight years and in that time has contributed much to the development of the University and its place as a leading regional higher education provider,' Mrs Brazil said.
'In recognition of that contribution Professor Lovegrove will be awarded an Emeritus Professorship.' .
The Chancellor said the University has commenced the process of identifying a replacement for Professor Lovegrove and has engaged an executive search firm to assist with the recruitment of a new Vice-Chancellor and President.
A farewell function for Professor Lovegrove will be held later in the year.
New CSIRO-Macquarie University Chair in Wireless Coimmunications appointed
Leading expert Dr Stephen Hanly has been lured back to Australia as the inaugural CSIRO-Macquarie University Chair in Wireless Communications.
Calls to link funding to results
The Federal Government has announced it is considering plans to reconfigure the methodology of school funding to a model based on how much it costs to educate students to a certain level.