Challenges in Australian Education

This assignment requires a critical analysis of the current state of education in Australia. Students are tasked with examining various challenges facing the system, such as funding inequalities, teacher shortages, and educational disadvantage. The analysis should draw upon provided articles by experts and commentators, evaluating their perspectives on these issues and exploring potential solutions.

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ECONOMICS ASSIGNMENT
Students Name
Course
Professors Name
University
(City)State
Date

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Reforms in the Australian Education industry
Predominantly, education is a globally recognized empowerment tool and is considered a
right in most countries. The Australian education industry like most education sectors has its
shortcomings thus the need for the Australian government to implement various reforms for
better performance of learners and boost their chances of global competitiveness and knowledge.
Predominantly, the Australian education sector has faced funding, educational disadvantages,
inequities, shortage of quality teachers and curriculum challenges. There's need to address the
inequity in resource allocation between disadvantaged and advantaged schools, need to boost
teacher quality because poorly trained teachers are unlikely to produce better student
performance.The teacher shortage can be addressed through initiatives that make the teaching
profession attractive and implementing strong teaching training curriculum.
Currently, the Australian government has implemented various reforms, both negative and
positive to its education sector. Particularly, these reforms have been characterized by the
establishment of a national curriculum, national assessments have been standardized and a
universal accessibility to preschool education.Moreover, professional teaching standards have
been set to help produce quality teachers for quality student performance(Bentley and Savage
2017).There's urgent need to incorporate innovative teaching techniques, quality teacher
accreditation standards and high-quality teacher training for better student performance.Teachers
ought to be trained using modern techniques and curriculum so as to adequately prepare them for
the classroom.With the changing technological advancements, student and teacher curriculum
ought to accommodate the changes.

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Noteworthy, Australian 15-year-old learner scores in reading, Maths, and Science performance
has declined over the years according to the Programme for International Student Assessment
survey. Moreover, the knowledge and skill set of a 15-year-old Australian student is equal to that
of an average 12-year-old Korean Student(Wilson, Dalton et.al,2015).Poor student performance
in Maths, Reading, and Science is a challenge for the Australian learning population. Further,
through the higher education reform package, admissions to higher learning institutions has been
regulated and more transparent which is a positive move to foster accountability and fairness
education. Also, choice of courses have extended to approved sub-courses(Birmingham N.d).
Moreover, there's been established the higher education participation and partnership initiatives
for the disadvantaged student population in Australia.
Particularly, boosting performance in Science, there’s need to implement the innovative and
strong curriculum. Through quality nationalized teaching approaches to Science and
Mathematics, student performance will improve curriculum on science should incorporate the
changes in the world today. Additionally, the interaction between students and science-based
professionals will enhance student understanding of science (Tytler 2016).Typically, there's a
shortage of qualified teachers to quench the demand for education in Australia. Specifically, the
undersupply of teachers leads to poor student performance due to the high chances that some
teachers are teaching outside their scope of expertise (Masters 2017).Notably, there's uneven
distribution of qualified teachers in the Australian states. Victoria, New South Wales, and South
Australia have reported an oversupply of teachers as compared to Queensland.
Also, there's need to advance the teacher training programs in Maths and Science through pre-
service initiatives to foster collaboration between science and Math based education
programs(Department of Education and Training 2016). Noteworthy, the Australian government

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has made budgetary allocations towards science-based faculty, department collaboration on
science matters which is aimed at increasing the number of qualified science teachers to boost
student performance.In addition, capabilities and curriculum for teaching science have been
explored and incorporated into the system of teaching science. There all the teachers need to
ensure that all the teachers are qualified to teach their respective fields of study as opposed to
qualified teacher engaging in areas not in which they have expertise but are forced to teach due
to the problem of undersupply of teachers in schools.
Further, there is a decline in participation in Science and Maths.Specifically,6.6 represents
the female students who sat for the Maths and Science exams in the year 2013(Wilson, Dalton
et.al,2015) in Australian thus the need to encourage gender equity. This can be advocated
through compulsory studies in Maths and Science in all Australian States. Currently, the states of
New South Wales and Western Australia, lack the mandatory requirement for students to study
Maths.Further, there s need for a national curriculum stipulating compulsory subject to studies
such as Science and Maths to create equal learning experiences and competitiveness.A uniform
education curriculum is proof of education equality due to the fact that the standard measure of
student performance is the same for each and every student in Australia.Further, a uniformed
curriculum makes it easy for Australian learners to be incorporated into the labor force in any
part of the Australian states.
Moreover, there's the need to increase the population of qualified teachers.Undoubtedly,
unqualified teachers are likely to encourage poor student performance and ignorance as opposed
to qualified teachers who can handle the different student abilities and impart knowledge.
Currently, in Australia, the teacher training threshold covers the top students between 26% to
39% between the years 1983-03.In a way, this has made the teaching profession in Australia less

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attractive (Masters 2017).There's need to attract the brilliant population of students into the
teaching profession as a first choice rather than an option. Notably, there s need to increase the
number f teacher training institutions, incorporate current changes in their training programs and
set higher academic qualifications for would-be teachers to boost the chances of teaching
profession being an attractive profession and to keep the teacher motivated.
Additionally, there's need to reduce the disparities between students based on their social
economic backgrounds. For the sake of equity, there ought to be equal learning experiences of
students despite their social economic background. This can be achieved through equitable
education resource allocation strategies and creation of equal opportunities for both privileged
and underprivileged students (Masters 2017).Segregation of students based on the
socioeconomic background should be eliminated completely. There ought to be an equal
allocation of resources, inclusive of teaching facilities, qualified teachers and equal education
opportunities across the board in Australian states to ensure equal learning experiences and to
foster equal competitiveness among the Students, nationally and globally.All Australian schools
should have adequate and equal education facilities despite location and social economic
background of the learners.Equal treatment of indigenous and nonindigenous students.
Typically, there's a distinct connection between student performance and social economic
background of a student.Underprivileged students are likely to attend underprivileged schools
due to their socioeconomic background(Zyngier 2012).Noteworthy, it been observed that the
performance of students with the low socioeconomic background is between 3-5 years after the
advantaged students thus proof of inequitable education conditions prompting the need for
government intervention.In Australia, wealthy schools receive excessive government support as
opposed to disadvantaged schools.The Australian government ought to implement policies and

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strategies to equally distribute adequate resources to disadvantaged schools to afford the same
opportunities to disadvantaged students.There's need to equip disadvantaged schools with
adequate teachers and educational facilities for equal learning opportunities for the less
privileged students.Usually, less disadvantaged students perform poorly due to inadequate
resources and poor learning environment thus the need for government intervention.
By and large, educational disadvantages have crippled the Australian education system.Such
disadvantages are characterized by unequal education opportunities, experiences, and
outcomes(Perry 2017).Notably, Australia recorded the highest shortage of qualified teachers
between privileged and underprivileged schools thus the need to levelise learning field for all
Australian learners despite the location and social economic background of students or the
schools(Munro 2016).There need to employ more qualified teachers who possess high-quality
training to help develop the education system in Australia and improve student
performance.most Australian teachers engage in teaching subjects they did not major in thus the
out of field teacher experience translating into poor student performance.This can be achieved
through target teaching programs and qualified teachers being employed in learning institutions.
Undoubtedly, the availability of resources is founded on the availability and distribution of
funding in schools.There is an urgent need to adequately equip schools with the right resources
to create a good learning environment for the students for better performance.ill equipped
schools resulting in poor student performance.The deregulation of the Australian higher
education sector is aimed at boosting education quality and competition levels in
Australia.Regarding student experiences, disadvantaged students are unlikely to report engaging
student-teacher relationship as compared to advantaged students thus accounting for the
disparities in student performance and outcomes(Perry 2017).There's a three-year achievement

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gap between students in privileged and underprivileged students thus the need for intervention to
provide equal opportunities, experiences to boost the learner achievements and outcomes.
Particularly, it been observed that Catholic schools student performance is higher than those of
public schools(Hunjan and Blumer 2016).The difference in student performance is attributed to
the resource imbalances between private and private learning institutions.Poor student
performance can be attributed to an inequitable education system thus the need to implement
equitable measures in both public and private school systems to address the inequity in the
different school operations.Funding ought to be primal for school expenditure and
performance.The unavailability of resources is attributed to unfair distribution or lack of capital
to fund operations thus the need for further finance based reforms in the Australian education
sector.Primarily, the implementation of the Gonski model report will shape the Australian school
funding system(Sky News 2017).It's a proposed authoritative policy on the school funding which
is aimed at boosting equity and promoting accountability of finances in education.
Moreover, there s need to update the learning curriculum to accommodate the changes in the
world today (Masters 2016).An updated curriculum equips the learners with the skills to face the
21st Century challenges. Also, there’s need to incorporate innovative teaching methods to make
learning interesting and memorable for the students. The embracing of modern teaching methods
through the use of visual presentation aids will boost student performance due to the likely effect
of better understanding and remembrance through visual aids (Department of Education and
Training 2016).Remarkably, the Australian government introduced a national curriculum in the
year 2010 with a view to promoting equity and similar learning experiences for all students
(International Education News 2014). Through a nationalized curriculum, students are able to
adequately compete for the available opportunities due to the uniform education background.

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Noteworthy, the implementation of the budgetary funding by the government to the higher
education sector is believed to curtail research, scholarship programs and innovation (Sharaz
2017).Moreover, the package stipulates short repayment periods for student loans, higher fees
and a reduced budget for research thus detrimental to the sustainability and development of the
higher education sector. The higher education reform package offers no relief to students in
higher learning institutions. The underprivileged students wishing to join higher learning
institutions will reduce due to the lack of support from government funding which might go a
long way in reducing the number of applications to higher learning institutions and fewer
graduates from higher learning institutions (Massaro 2017).There an urgent need to make higher
education fees more affordable for the ordinary Australian learner to achieve the right and access
to education.
Recently, the Australian government has made substantial changes to the higher education
sector.However, the changes are likely to do more harm than good to the students.Specifically,
subsidies for courses has significantly reduced whereas fees has increased.Moreover, lower
repayment schemes and performance-based funding threshold has been introduced into the
higher education sector in Australia.Particularly, there's been a decline in enrollments in higher
learning facilities following the changes(Noonan 2017).The decline in the number of students in
higher learning isn’t admirable as this is likely to add to the structural unemployment rates in the
future. The lack of skilled labor due to lack of training and knowledge can be directly influenced
by higher fees which limit the affordability of training and knowledge acquisition for the future
labor force.
Additionally, there’s need to promote vocational education and training so as to keep the
current taskforce relevant with their skill set and knowledge.The reduced funding has also led to

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a decline in the vocational education and training numbers from 5.5 percent in the year 2012 to
4.4per cent in the year 2015.There s need for the Australian government to provide afford
vocational training and education opportunities and facilities to boost participation numbers for a
better-skilled labor force.Teacher education n is also another challenge for the Australian
education system(Rickards 2016).Predominantly, quality teachers translate into quality student
performance hence the need to invest in teacher education quality.The Australian government
has implemented a top 30 percent entry requirement for teachers specializing in Numeracy and
literacy education in a way to boost student performance in literacy and numeracy.
The formulation of strict teacher accreditation requirements and quality education programs
will adequately equip teachers to maximize the student potential thus translating to better student
performance in literacy and numeracy. The supply of qualified teachers stands unmatched to the
demand for education(Rickards 2016/) thus the need to increase the number of qualified to
adequately satisfy the thirst for education in Australia.With an increase in the demand for
education due to population growth, affordability of education and other factors, the population
of qualified teachers is necessary to meet the demand to avoid undersupply of teachers.Mainly,
teacher shortages can be eliminated by increasing the number of teachers in Australia through
availing adequate teacher training institutions, tutors, quality curriculum to adequately prepare
the teachers for the classroom.
Noteworthy, there a shortage of teachers in history, language and geography in Australia
(Rickards 2016).There s urgent need for the Australian government to make the teaching
profession more attractive for more enrollment for teacher education thus boosting the supply of
qualified teachers in different fields of expertise. There a huge problem of teachers, not an expert
in the subject they are teaching thus leading to poor student performance due to lack of expertise

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in the tutoring subject. Noteworthy, the Australian government has made attempts to equalize
funding to all schools. Particularly, some private schools have reported cases of reduced funding
(Chan and Karp 2017).The move to reduced funding is aimed at promoting equitable funding in
all schools and availing the excessive funding to activities aimed at boosting student
performance.
Notably, the Australian government aims to implement a minimum resource standard for all
schools so as to promote equity in funding allocation for schools. Following the budget cuts,
most schools in the Victorian state face budgetary shortfalls and the transition isn’t as smooth as
anticipated hence there ought to have been consultations between the private sector education
players in the industry in the formulation of the minimum standard resource threshold which
would have prepared the school administrators in Australia for the transition to come due to
budgetary funding cuts. Further, there s need to address the growing achievement rates between
learners from low and high social economic backgrounds.Noteworthy,13 percent-14 of a student
in Australia underperform according to the international proficiency threshold in Maths,
Reading, and Science(Save our Schools n. d).
Particularly, students from wealthy backgrounds have higher education achievement outcomes
as compared to less privileged students thus the need for government intervention to promote
equitable opportunities for the underprivileged learners in its states. Also, nonindigenous learners
have recorded higher outcomes educationally as contrasted with indigenous students hence the
need to avail equal and adequate educational resources and opportunities for indigenous and
nonindigenous students.The proposed fee hikes in the higher education learning institution is
likely to harm the quality of education in those higher learning institutions.This is due to the fact
that there will be resource limitations and teaching staff which may encourage poor performance.

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Budgetary cuts to the higher learning institutions contribute to high unemployment rates due to
the limited investment into the higher learning sector of the economy (Baker 2017.
Despite the availability of funding by government to public schools more needs to be done to
ensure there s equity in resource distribution in schools (Boston 2017).Predominantly, public
schools cater for the educational needs of disadvantaged students thus the need for adequate
funding from the government.In addition, affordability of education, especially higher education
is an issue that needs to be addressed in Australia. Higher education system in Australia has
experienced various financial reforms in a bid to make it affordable for students (Bexley
2017).In the year 2018-21, higher education students fees have hiked by 1.8per cent which is
likely to result in few student applications in higher learning institutions due to the increase in
fees, fewer students are likely to apply. Under the higher education reform package students are
bound to pay more fees within short repayment dates which are burdensome for the students
(Croucher 2017).
Moreover, the reduction in government funding to higher learning institution has shifted the
cost to students. Categorically, government funding had availed more funds for research
opportunities in higher education and provided learning opportunities for needy students through
scholarship. The decline of government funding has negatively affected the needy students and
crippled research.Remarkably the Australian government education reforms have yielded success
in some regards.Specifically, school retention rates have increased over the years at 76.7 percent
in the year 2009 from 74.4 percent in the year 2000(Harrington 2015).Further, teacher quality,
awards for best-performing students and teachers, reporting of performance by schools are some
of the implemented measures meant to boost the education sector performance in
Australia.Equity in funding has availed equitable learning opportunities for the disadvantaged

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students in Australia.There is public and commonwealth funding towards the Australian
education system.
Arguably, the Australian government efforts have contributed to the growth and progress of its
education sector.Through government funding, disadvantaged schools have been able to
accommodate more needy students.Through teacher quality accreditation standards and facilities,
more teachers have been trained to take up the education challenges in Australia.The
implementation of the Gonski model report on school funding is aimed at promoting equity and
accountability in the funding of school programs.However, the budgetary cuts for higher
education has shifted the burden cost to the learners.Students are expected to pay higher fees
with short repayment cycles which is burdensome and inconvenient for struggling students in
higher learning institutions.Affordable education ought to be key for Australian
policymakers.There s room for further reforms in the education sector in Australia despite the
current reforms.

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Baker, E.(2016).University Students and staff protest government education reform. Cabrerra
Times .Available at http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/university-students-and-staff-
protest-government-higher-education-reform-20170808-gxrr39.html[Accesssed 15 Sep 2017]
Bentley,T .,and Savage, G.C.(2017).Educating Australia-Why our Schools aren’t
Improving.ABC News. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-02/educating-australia-
why-our-schools-aren't-improving/8235222[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Bexley, E.(2017).Higher Education Reform: Small changes for now but Bigs Ones to Come. The
Conversation. Available at https://theconversation.com/higher-education-reform-small-changes-
for-now-but-big-ones-to-come-76978[ Accessed 2 Sep 2017]
Birmingham, S.(N .d).Focusing On Facts of Higher Education. Senator Birmingham. Com.
Available at https://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/focusing-on-the-facts-of-higher-education-
reform/[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Boston, K.(2017).Our School funding system is unfair and holding Australia Back. Heres how to
fix it.ABC News. Available at iwww.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-13/our-school-funding-system-is-
unfair-and-holding-australia-back/8a435300[Accessed 15 Sep 2017
Chan, G, and Karp, P.(2017). Gonski 2.0. Review to allocate Resources as funding is cut to
private schools. The Guardian. Available at
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/02/gonski-review-allocate-resources-
funding-cut-private-schools[Accessed 2 Sep 2017]

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Croucher, G.(2017).2017 Higher Education Reform: Cuts to Universities, Higher Fees for
students. Available at https://theconversation.com/2017-higher-education-reform-cuts-to-
universities-higher-fees-for-students-63185[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Department of Education and Training.(2016).Enhancing the Training of Mathematics and
Science Teachers Program. Australian Government. Available at
https://www.education.gov.au/enhancing-training-mathematics-and-science-teachers-
program[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Department of Education and Training.(2016).Technology in Schools. Australian Government.
Available at https://www.education.gov.au/technology-schools[Accessed 2 Sep 2017]
Harrington, M.(2015).School Reform .Parliament of Australia. Available at
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/
pubs/BriefingBook43p/schoolreform[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Hunjan, R, and Blumer., C.(2016).Australian Schools are in “absolute decline” Globally, says
PISA Report.ABC News. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/australian-
school-performance-in-absolute-decline-globally/8098028[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
International Education News.(2014).Curriculum Reform in Australia .International Education
News. Available at https://internationalednews.com/2014/12/04/curriculum-reform-in-australia/
[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Massaro, V.(2017).Higher Education Reform needs to have vision and be Affordable. The
Australian .Com .Available at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/higher-

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education-reform-needs-to-have-vision-and-be-affordable/news-story/
de4ecf1f9cee428d1591aa421fa897de[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Masters G.(2017).’Big Five’ challenges in School Education. Teacher Magazine. Available at
https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/columnists/geoff-masters/big-five-challenges-in-school-
education[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Masters, G.(2015).Planning a Stronger Teacher Workforce. Teacher Magazine .Available at
https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/columnists/geoff-masters/planning-a-stronger-teacher-
workforce[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Munro, K.(2016).Why Australia s education system going Backwards?.The Sydney Morning
Herald. Available at http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/why-is-australias-education-
system-going-backwards-20161208-gt6van.html[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Noonan, P.(2017).Australian HE Reforms need further Vetting. Times Higher Education. Com.
Available at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/australian-he-reforms-need-further-
vetting#survey-answer[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Perry, L.(2017).Educational Disadvantage is a huge Problem in Australia-we cant just carry on
the same. The Conversation. Available at https://theconversation.com/educational-disadvantage-
is-a-huge-problem-in-australia-we-cant-just-carry-on-the-same-74530[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
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Save our Schools.(N.d).A Vision for 2020: Achieve Equity in Education.
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15 Sep 2017]

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Sharaz, D.(2017).Go8 Universities “disappointed” By Proposed Higher Education
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universities-disappointed-proposed-higher-education-reforms[Accessed 15 Sep 2017]
Sky News.(2017).PM lauds “Biggest Ever” School Funding Reform. Sky News.Com. Available
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