The Last Word offers opinion pieces from a series of education experts, who discuss an issue or trend impacting schools, students and the education sector in Australia. They also outline their views, advice and where relevant, offer solutions they believe can help alleviate or prevent a current problem within the primary or secondary education space.
Let’s set the record straight. Despite what ill-informed parts of the media portrayed as ‘home learning’ being the norm at the end of Term 1 and beginning of Term 2 in most states and territories, it was most certainly not the case. Schools were still open in most cases, some students of both essential workers and other parents were still in attendance, and ‘online learning’ was in fact the norm. Although some parents were able to play a more active role in the learning of their children, behind the scenes, teachers and diversity supports were hard at work maintaining relationships to ensure the continued learning of the students in their care. Read more
Andrew Pierpoint, President of the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association (ASPA), speaks about the important of addressing and improving the wellbeing of school leaders.Read more
Minister for Education, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP, speaks about the Australian Government’s commitment to choice and equity in education, along with record funding and reforms.
Professor Mike Gaffney, Academic Director at the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute (NESLI) discusses why passion, priorities and persistence are key qualities for today’s principals and school leaders.
David de Carvalho, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), breaks down NAPLAN data, with a particular focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, discusses the issue of nude photo sharing among young people and the education resources available to assist teachers and parents to respond to it.
