The Productivity Commission has recommended that the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) be redesigned to focus more attention on lifting students’ academic results and supporting their wellbeing.
Commissioner at the Productivity Commission, Natalie Siegel-Brown said the Review of the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) examined how well national policy initiatives by Federal, State and Territory Governments had achieved the objectives and outcomes of the Agreement.
“Governments have boosted funding for schools and are implementing reforms to lift student outcomes,” Ms Siegel-Brown said.
“However, so far, this effort has had little impact on literacy and numeracy results,” she said.
“In the next Agreement, the Commission recommends Governments commit to firm targets to lift students’ results — targets do not guarantee success but they create a clear direction for reform and make governments accountable.”
Ms Siegel-Brown said that to ensure Australia had a high quality, high equity education system, the NSRA must focus on addressing the different educational needs of particular cohorts, in addition to effective teaching and school leadership and supporting student wellbeing.
She said effective teaching was the single most influential ‘in-school’ factor for creating an effective learning environment.
“Compared to many countries, our teachers work longer hours but have less time for activities that make a real difference in the classroom,” the Commissioner said.
“Teacher shortages also mean we are asking many teachers to teach subjects they are not trained to teach.”
She said Governments had announced reforms to address the issues, but the Commission was suggesting further reforms which could help ease pressures on teachers.
The Commission’s 350-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
