Education

PISA is out and continues to hit the headlines. Although Australia has, again, slipped in international rankings, this is a much more complex story than just wanting to climb the PISA ladder.

The Australian Taxation Office has handed out its annual internal awards to outstanding staff and invited a group of schoolkids in to receive their own awards at the same time, for creative ideas on how to convey the importance of taxation and superannuation.

Fifteen-year-old students surveyed in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment still see their futures in roles that usually sit within the public sector.

The federal government will introduce a range of measures to support teachers following a report revealing the challenges Australian teachers and principals face compared to their international counterparts.

Slowing wage growth, the increasing cost of education and the fast pace of social change make it difficult for parents to prepare their children for uncertain futures.

The Tasmanian government wants to make it easier for local businesses to tender for “technology services” contracts, while the state’s Integrity Commission reports one public servant made it a bit too easy for a friend to win contracts for “digital education resources” worth $2.6 million.

The City of Casey council in south-eastern Melbourne is the latest to face allegations of serious corruption that will be aired in a public inquiry. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission will publicly examine the council’s allegedly dirty laundry in a series of hearings starting on November 18.

Patience can have a significant impact on a child’s educational outcomes, and understanding why can help inform good policy for Australia’s school system.

The Department of Education has been praised for the design and governance of its child care package, acting as a good example for other agencies. Child care functions were transferred from the Department of Social Services to Education in September 2015.

Retiring ASIO head Duncan Lewis says the Australian Public Service “could do better” by offering a lot more education and training to prepare its leaders, particularly to hold their ground when ministers push them too far towards the political.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt has encouraged Indigenous students to take part in an opportunity to explore a future career in the public sector, with applications closing 23 August.

Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission is taking a close look at examples of government agencies doing the wrong thing with sensitive private information. Operation Impala will “examine the misuse of personal and sensitive information by public sector agencies” through a public hearing this November.