Higher education is one of the worst areas for job security in the nation, says the NTEU. An inquiry into insecure work in Australia has been told that the precarious employment experiences and labour practices imposed on tertiary education staff ...
More »Sydney acts on ‘irregular’ job moves
The fight over staff cuts at Australia’s oldest uni is heating up with claims that women are being discriminated against. Sydney University staff who feel they have been forced to accept redundancy or reduced duties have been told by the ...
More »Spin, slogans, scandals and statistics
John Mitchell talks to a senior TAFE leader who says avoid the Victorian model at all costs. Skills Victoria’s experimentation with market-based VET funding is causing increasing disquiet, even among the usual supporters of such policies. Recent reports by the Productivity ...
More »More English is not better English
The NT government continues with a language education policy that is not supported by domestic and international research, writes Rosa McKenna. The Northern Territory Minister for Education and Training Chris Burns is wrong to continue with English-only classes for indigenous ...
More »Grattan report ‘flawed’
The Grattan report is seriously flawed in concluding that the problem with teaching engagement in Australia is due to too much emphasis on research, an Australian academic who has taught in the US says. Dr David Palmer a senior lecturer ...
More »Private providers at the big table
Private educators still hanker for the same respect as those in the public system, but they have arguably gained a lot of ground since 1992. That’s the year governments recognised the value of a market-based approach to vocational education and ...
More »Pain over dentistry demand
La Trobe University’s dentistry program has been the victim of its own popularity, with far more students than expected enrolling after being offered a place – so many that 34 have been told there is no room for them after ...
More »Cautious welcome by VET for wider HECS
A proposal by the federal government to extend HECS-style loans to some VET students has been welcomed by the sector, which has been lobbying for such a scheme for some time. Negotiations are still underway with the states and territories ...
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