Archived News for Education Sector Professionals

The latest youth unemployment figures show tough times in many regions, with some areas seeing dramatic spikes in joblessness over the last few years.

Animals' depiction confuses fact and ficiton

A new study suggests children’s books that depict animals with human characteristics do not help them learn about nature.

Effective and only farm school plan could go

The single program for getting young people into agriculture may be cut, with reports that the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education has already lost its national headquarters.

Funds flow for intense teaching turnaround

More funding has been given to a program that offers a 6-week teacher training course to get people with unrelated degrees into classrooms.

Language learners caught short by cuts

There is concern at the axing of numerous English as a second language (ESL) teachers in NSW, which some have said is the first failing of new funding.

Ranking reform flagged in NAPLAN round-up

Senators from all sides of politics say NAPLAN is coming in under the mark.

Historic lessons in digital form

An ancient and beautiful language has been brought into the digital age, with the release of a Sanskrit e-book.

Mental mining pulls faces from memory

Researchers have extracted images of people’s faces from human memory, using brain scans.

Range of smell spelled for a trillion different scents

The human nose is capable of some high-definition smelling, with a new study estimating we can distinguish around one trillion different scents.

Ancient letter shows little has changed

A postgrad student has deciphered a letter dating back 1,800 years, written by an Egyptian soldier serving in a Roman legion in Europe.

Anti-bullying day takes aim at online hate

Parents are being encouraged to talk with their kids and take a larger role in their online activities, hoping to cut the harmful effects of cyber-bullying on a national day of action.

Horsham heads for new age with $10 million fixing fund

A Victorian school in disrepair has been awarded $10 million for a full makeover.

Internet integrity questioned as top names turn to Wikipedia

Despite many universities and school condemning the use of Wikipedia as a legitimate source, a new study says thousands of research papers happily cite the open source encyclopaedia.

Maths fear factored in twin studies

Few school subjects illicit the kind of fear and abjection that mathematics can, but researchers say there may be a genetic reason behind it.

Probe finds ears closed to trouble-makers

An education department audit has found one state’s authorities are fairly unaware of the extent of behavioural problems.

Vital program looking for more links to literacy

Coordinators of a commendable adult literacy program are calling for tutors, saying they want to bring the life-changing service to more people.

Universal echoes bring Big Bang physics into a new age

Physicists have discovered evidence from the first few billionths of a second after the universe formed.

Card system deals cops a better hand for truancy

Police and local shopkeepers have banded together to cut truancy rates in New South Wales.

Handy research points to gestural advantage

Research has shown the power of teaching and learning maths with hand gestures.

Independents speak ill of growing distance from Gonski

The Independent Schools Council of Australia has delivered a dim view of Australian education funding, saying all models are far removed from the Gonski recommendations, and national reform is virtually impossible.

Kids quickly notice issues in the places they inherit

As many lament the decline of respect and values among today’s youth, a recent study has shown the effects that older generations’ habits can have on young people’s perspective.