Monday 30 June

Tuesday 1 July

Wednesday 2 July

Thursday 3 July

Friday 4 July

Saturday – Sunday, 5 – 6 July

 

Monday 30 June

• The West Australian
  

  • Schools pay consultants to hire staff (page 19)
    by Keryn McKinnon, FOI Editor
    
    “State schools are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants to help them find staff, prompting the teachers' union to call for a return to a central transfer system so the money can be better spent on educational programs.

    “Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal seven schools spent nearly $40,000 on human resources consultants last year to help them hire staff.

    “But the true cost will be significantly higher because the Department of Education and Training refused to disclose the expenditure for all 460 schools allowed to select their own teachers because it claimed the FOI request was too big and would take too much time to process. 

    “Mandurah Senior College spent $22,000 on consultants to help recruit staff in 2007. It was by far the biggest spender of the seven schools whose spending details were released.

    “Churchlands Senior High School spent $5118 on consultants and Sev­enoaks Senior College paid out $2437.

    “DET acting human resources exec­utive director John Serich said yester­day the department tried to be as flexible as possible to ensure all schools had quality teachers.

    "Principals make decisions that are best for their schools," he said. "This includes the choice of opting to select their own staff and the manner in which they go about this. They can hire and pay for external consultants approved by DET."

    “Mandurah Senior College's con­sultant bill was big because it was fill­ing 26 positions.”To support the process and to ensure that the recruit­ment process was conducted in a timely manner, external human resource consultants were employed," he said.

    “State School Teachers Union presi­dent. Anne Gisborne was shocked schools were spending so much on recruitment when the staffing direc­torate at head office should be assist­ing them at no cost.

    "The time and energy and resourc­es and cost involved in schools run­ning their own merit selection process is the reason why the management of staff should be at a central level,” she said.

    “Under the department's merit selection policy, two-thirds of the State's 769 schools are allowed to recruit staff outside the central trans­fer system.

    “Ms Gisborne said the two-tiered system meant that in a time of teacher shortages, schools were competing against each other for staff. It also meant that hard-to-staff schools had to spend more money on consultants to help hire teachers because they had a big staff turnover.

    “But WA Secondary School Execu­tive Association president Rob Nairn said principals supported local selec­tion because it enabled schools to hire teachers that best suited the needs of their students.

    "The issue is whether the money could be better spent somewhere else," Mr Nairn said. "I think $3000­$4000 in terms of recruitment, and if you are looking at value for money, 1 would think it is money well spent.”

    “WA Council of State School Orga­nisations president Rob Fry said there was merit in schools selecting their own staff. But he was concerned money was being spent on staff selec­tion from school budgets when the department already had a central staffing directorate.”

    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Letters to the Editor (page 22)
    

    • The Columnists: Paul Murray

      “Congratulations to Paul Murray, for his expose (26/6) of Education Minister Mark McGowan's smokescreen tactics with the Twomey report. As Murray suggests, Mr McGowan is either ineffectual or incompetent. There is, however, another even more alarming possible explanation. Perhaps the State Government has given up on public education and no longer cares?

      “After all, every student who deserts Government schools for the private sector represents a cost saving to the State. Where is the Government response to the Twomey report? Deafening silence and zero dollars is the response so far. Are we witnessing the terminal decline of a once great public education sector?

      Ken Wadley, Leeming
      
      

    • “Paul Murray's column about Mark McGowan's belated release of the Twomey report misses the real crux of the issue. Our education system is careering toward enormous teacher shortages and Mr McGowan's refusal to release the Report in a timely fashion is just another indication that the Government has no intention of addressing the crisis in any meaningful way.

      “Never mind the current anger and disillusionment of teachers - people need to be asking who, if anybody, is going to be teaching their sons and daughters mathematics or science or English in three or four or five years' time. Every West Australian should be outraged by the Carpenter Government's appalling disregard for the education of our State's children.”

      Les Pearce, Bunbury
      
      

    • What Super-boom?

      "We are told by Premier Alan Carpenter that we are experiencing a "super boom", the boom of a lifetime.

      “In summer time we are told, at our expense, not to use our air-conditioners because of a shortage of electricity.
      
      “We are told, at our expense, not to use too much water and we are on permanent restrictions because of the shortage.
      
      “The hospital and health crisis is no better and no closer to being resolved than when the Liberal Party held office.
      
      “Our teachers, nurses and police officers are treated with indifference and are underpaid.
      
      “Our rates of taxation are among the highest in the country, yet we are considered the economic powerhouse of Australia.
      
      “Housing affordability is beyond the reach of the average "working family".
      
      “In winter we are told, at our expense, not to use gas and electricity for heating because of a shortage.
      
      “And finally we are not told not to go fishing on our summer holidays because there is a shortage of fish, but we are allowed to buy it a hugely inflated price.
      
      “Does anybody really believe we are doing well?”
      
      Tim Bailey, East Fremantle
      
      
      

• BBC News [too good to omit !]
  
  
  • Review as expletive gets marks
    
    "An exam board is to review its marking guidance after one of its top examiners gave marks for a script which contained only a two-word sexual expletive.

    "The Times reported that Assessment and Qualifications Alliance chief examiner Peter Buckroyd gave a pupil two marks out of 27 for an English GCSE paper.

    "He is quoted as saying the candidate had demonstrated more skills than one "who doesn't write anything at all".

    "AQA said this was not in line with its guidelines, which would be clarified.
    
    "The pupil is reported to have written "fuck off", and would have had another mark for adding an exclamation point..."
    

    Full story at BBC News at link
    
    
    
    
• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • How Costa put squeeze on Rudd
    by Phillip Coorey, Chief Political Correspondent
    
    "The Rudd Government has been embarrassed by revelations that it was advised to make a $245 million secret deal with NSW to avoid "a big political problem" and secure support for its election promise to give computers to high school students.

    "The deal - to be "hidden" from the other states - was proposed to combat threats by the NSW Treasurer, Michael Costa, to scuttle the Commonwealth's computers-in-schools program unless he got the extra money to cover costs linked to installing the computers, such as internet connections and electricity bills.
    
    "Papers obtained by the Nine Network show Mr Costa made the threat in a recent letter to his federal counterpart, Wayne Swan. They also reveal Mr Swan's advisers urging him to offer NSW the secret sweetheart deal.
    
    "The Rudd Government is resisting this advice along with the Costa demands, which could mean a showdown before a meeting of federal, state and territory leaders in Sydney on Thursday.
    
    "In his letter to Mr Swan, Mr Costa said: "In the absence of a firm commitment from the Commonwealth to fully fund these costs, the state is unable to participate in round one of the [scheme]."
    
    "The program will ensure every student from years 9 to 12 has a computer. But when Mr Rudd announced the $1 billion fund, he forgot to factor in costs such as broadband connections, installing powerpoints and power bills, so the states demanded extra funds.

    "A briefing note prepared by advisers for Mr Swan on June 19 said the issue threatened to derail the premiers' meeting and that NSW "is the only known and major obstacle on this front".

    "It makes most sense to kill the issue by making a separate side deal with NSW," the advice says.

    "It recommends keeping the other states in the dark: "To ensure that the deal remains hidden and seemingly unrelated to CoAG [the Council of Australian Governments], it would be best if the side deal involved a specific capital project in NSW. You should recommend the [Prime Minister's Office] pursue such an option with [Morris] Iemma's office."

    "The advice warns that while the Commonwealth held the pursestrings "the states have the capacity to hurt our promise to end the blame game and to deliver key election commitments". [emphasis added]

    "An email sent on Saturday from Rod Glover from the Prime Minister's Office to Mr Rudd's chief of staff, David Epstein, and other senior advisers says that without NSW, round one of the computer rollout would not proceed. And that would be "a big political problem" for the Commonwealth. But it says Mr Costa's demand is unreasonable and would lead to the other states wanting more money. It recommends Mr Rudd speak to Mr Iemma by last night and a resolution be found by today.

    "The federal Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, said last night: "Michael Costa has exposed Kevin Rudd and his computers-in-schools policy for the fraud that we have known it to be for some time."

    "But Mr Swan said there was always "robust debate" before a premiers' conference. The documents were internal staff notes only. Mr Costa's spokesman said: "We're continuing negotiations over the details of this package."

    From The Sydney Morning Herald at link
    
    Similar story in The Australian
    
    
    
    
  • The myth of today's troubled children
    by Adele Horin
    
    "Children are just as well-adjusted as their counterparts of 20 years ago and, if anything, better behaved and less anxious - at least to their parents. But teachers appear to have a different view.

    "Research published today by the Australian Institute of Family Studies compares two studies of children two decades apart, and found that, in both the 1980s and the first decade of this century, the "great majority" of young children were happily adjusted..."
    
    "But today's teachers were more likely than those of the 1980s - and more likely than today's parents - to report six- to seven-year-old children had conduct problems or were hyperactive. [emphasis added]

    "About 8 per cent of today's children were hyperactive, teachers reported, compared with about 6 per cent in the 1980s; about 3 per cent were disobedient, compared with 1.6 per cent in the 1980s; and 3.5 per cent fought with other children, compared with 2.9 per cent in the 1980s.

    "The report, Do Australian Children Have More Problems Today Than Twenty Years Ago?, says teachers today may be more aware of these problems than teachers of the 1980s and more willing to report them. But the authors say changed behaviour, perhaps due to less regulated classrooms, may also be a factor.

    "The authors said it was unusual in this type of research for teachers to report more problems in children than did the parents. The report is published in the institute's journal, Family Matters, and based on the Australian Temperament Project, which has followed people to age 25, and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children."

    Full story in The Sydney Morning Herald at link
    
    Similar story in The Australian
    
    
    

  • Students slice into virtual patients
    
    A world-first surgery simulator, invented by the CSIRO and Melbourne University, allows medical students to practice operations with unprecedented realism.
    
    
    
    
• ABC News
  
  
  • Opposition attack McGowan's $650k office revamp
    
    "The Western Australian Opposition has criticised the Education Minister's spending on his office, including a $650,000 refit in 2006.

    "Opposition Spokesman for Education Peter Collier says it is hypocritical of Minister Mark McGowan to spend the money on his Governor Stirling Tower office, when more funding is needed for state schools.

    "The new figures detailing the spending came from parliamentary questions put to the State Government.

    "Mr Collier says this will further exaggerate the rift between Mr McGowan and teachers.

    "Now at that stage we are talking about an enormous amount of improvements to a raft of staff rooms across the length and breadth of Western Australia and the number of schools that are in desperate need of repair," he said. [emphasis added]

    "You've got the Minister for Education spending this huge amount of money on this plush office space."

    "Mr Collier says Mr McGowan's explanation for the refit is not good enough.

    "Because he had an expanded Ministerial role he needed expanded office space but quite frankly what we are talking about here is the impression that it gives to the community at large and particularly teachers."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Carpenter to roll out computers in schools program
    
    "Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter says the State Government will roll out the Federal Government's $1 billion computers in schools program.

    "Some states and territories have demanded more money for the running costs of the scheme, including software, insurance and the rewiring of classrooms."Mr Carpenter says he discussed funding concerns with the Prime Minister at the last Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting and is now confident that the state can implement the program.

    "What we've got now in Western Australia is a clear understanding from the Federal Government that our capacity to implement the project will be taken into consideration, and the speed at which this project is rolled out, and I think we're going to manage this OK," he said."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Rudd called to admit computers program flawed
    
    "The Federal Opposition says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must admit his election promise to give a computer to every senior high school student is flawed.

    "The New South Wales Government is demanding millions more in extra funding from the Commonwealth before it backs Mr Rudd's plan.

    "There is even talk within the Federal Government that a secret payment could be made to convince New South Wales to sign on.

    "Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says it is time for Mr Rudd to admit his plan will fail.

    "Why should the Australian taxpayer have to pay $245 million in a secret side deal with a Labor mate in the state of New South Wales, because Mr Rudd won't admit that he got it wrong, that he hadn't costed putting these computers into schools," he said."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • NSW signs up to school computer rollout
    
    "The Federal Government says New South Wales has signed on to the first round of its computers in schools program.

    "The New South Wales Government is the last to agree to the $1.2 billion program which will give every student in years nine to 12 access to a computer.
    
    "The Federal Government has been under pressure today over revelations the state was demanding an extra $245 million to pay for associated costs like insurance, re-wiring classrooms and software.
    
    "There was also talk within the Federal Government that a secret payment could be made to convince the state to sign on.
    
    "Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson earlier said it is time for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to admit the plan will fail.
    
    "Why should the Australian taxpayer have to pay $245 million in a secret side deal with a Labor mate in the state of New South Wales, because Mr Rudd won't admit that he got it wrong, that he hadn't costed putting these computers into schools," he said.
    
    "New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma defended his Government's demand, saying it was reasonable.
    
    "What NSW has been doing, like every other state, is pointing out to the Commonwealth that one, we are very happy to co-operate with the Commonwealth in rolling out its computer in the school program, [and] two, there are flow-on costs to the states and seeking resolution of that issue," he said.
    
    "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earlier described the row as the normal argy bargy associated with negotiations.

    "But state and territory leaders have signalled that when they meet Mr Rudd on Thursday, they will be seeking assurances about more funding for the extra costs associated with later rounds of the program."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Bligh 'happy to negotiate' computers in schools program
    
    "Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says she is happy to keep negotiating with the Commonwealth over its computers in schools program.

    "The New South Wales Government is threatening to pull out of the deal unless it gets an extra $245 million to pay for installation costs.
    
    "Queensland received only 6 per cent of the computers in the first roll out."Ms Bligh says funding issues will be discussed at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting this week.
    
    "I'm determined to make sure that every Queensland child in our classrooms gets the benefit of those Commonwealth computers," she said.

    "We won't be paying any more than we need to for them, but that'll be the subject of negotiation."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Govt calls for $900k per year for school computer rollout
    
    ACT Education Minister Andrew Barr says the Government will need $900,000 a year to fund future rounds of the Federal Government's computers in schools program.
    
    
    
  • Computers in schools: Underfunding 'exposed'
    
    "The Federal Opposition says documents have exposed underfunding in the Federal Government's computers in schools program.

    "Documents have come to light showing New South Wales Treasurer Michael Costa had told his federal counterpart they will not take part unless NSW gets an extra $245 million.

    "Opposition education spokesman Tony Smith says that confirms his view that the Federal Government plan does not pay to run the computers.

    "All the way long we've said there wasn't enough money to make the computers work in schools," he said.

    "Principals have been screaming from the roof tops for seven months, the Labor states have been saying at each COAG meeting since December there weren't the funds to actually make the computers work and without them the computers would simply be sitting at boxes in schools."

    "Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says the Government will reach agreement with all states over funding for the program at this week's COAG meeting.

    "We recognise that there are on-costs so we decided at the last COAG meeting to engage in a discussion with all of the states about an additional contribution which would recognise that expense," he said.

    "Computers in schools is a very big program and a very important program which goes to the core of our education revolution.

    "The first tranche of computers in schools is providing computers for something like 896 schools and we've spent something like $116 million - $56 million of that will go to NSW."

    "But Mr Smith says the state governments do not have enough money for the running costs.

    "For months we've been saying there wasn't enough money to actually make the computers work and for seven months Kevin Rudd has decided to cover up the problem rather than fix the problem," he said.

    "He was more worried about election day and the popularity of his promise.

    "He was never making sure the computers would actually work in schools."

    "Mr Costa is not commenting on the claims he threatened to scuttle the computers in schools program.

    "It has also been revealed Mr Swan was then advised to make a separate deal with New South Wales and keep the other states in the dark.

    "A spokesman for Mr Costa will not confirm the letter and only says negotiations are continuing.

    "The NSW Government says it is continuing negotiations with the Federal Government over the details.

    "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's office says it is still committed to the plan."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • PM plays down computers for schools conflict
    
    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has denied the computers for schools program is in trouble and says the Government is committed to its implementation.
    
    
    
    
• The Australian
  
  
  • Nelson pressures PM over PC promise [late update: online only]
    
    Brendan Nelson has demanded Kevin Rudd reveal whether he is paying "hush money" over a pledge to put a PC on every high school desk.
    
    
    
  • NSW threat over school computers just argy-bargy, says Rudd [late update: online only]
    
    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has dismissed as argy-bargy a threat by the NSW Government to not allow computers to be installed in every school because of funding pressures.
    
    
    
  • Don't leave us in the states' hands, technical colleges plead
    by Andrew Trounson
    
    "Australian Technical Colleges have urged the Rudd Government to rethink plans to abolish their funding, arguing the states have shown little interest in supporting an apprenticeship program devised by the former Howard government.

    "The colleges claim their model of delivering apprenticeship training to students is more efficient than the federal Government's replacement scheme in which secondary schools can apply for funding to offer their own training centres.
    
    "Our preference would be to remain funded at a commonwealth level because the state response has been less than desired," Nigel Hill, chairman of the Australian Technical College Association told The Australian.
    
    "At a time when 40 per cent of first-year trade apprentices are dropping out and exacerbating skills shortages, the Rudd Government has allocated $2.5billion over 10 years for schools to establish trade training centres.

    "The Government is also spending $1.9billion over five years to provide 630,000 new training places, including 85,000 apprenticeships..."
    
    Full story in The Australian at link
    
    
    

• The Guardian
  
  
  • Physics teachers dying out in some state schools, report says
    by Polly Curtis, education editor
    
    · Dramatic fall in applicants to training courses
    · General science GCSE 'puts off the specialists'
    
    "Applications to physics teacher training courses have fallen dramatically, according to a report which suggests that the traditional physics specialist is disappearing from some state schools.

    "The number of applications dropped 27% in the last year, and retiring physics teachers now outnumber new recruits by 26%. Half of teachers have only a GCSE or A-level in the subject despite being expected to prepare pupils for university, said Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckinghamshire University, who led the research.

    "The figures suggest that independent and high-scoring state schools have a near monopoly on physics teachers with the best degrees in the subject. The report also finds that:

    · Applications to teacher training courses overall have fallen nearly 10% since last year, with physics the worst affected, according to figures from the Graduate Teacher Training Registry;

    · The shortage of physics teachers is most acute in low-performing secondaries without a sixth form or specialist status in the sciences, and a quarter of schools have no specialist physics teachers;

    · Half of admissions tutors to teacher training courses believe changes in the GCSE curriculum to a general science course which focuses more on teaching science through topical issues such as global warming have deterred potential specialist teachers.

    "The report's findings come amid widespread concerns about physics education following a spate of closures of university departments, fuelled by a drop in numbers of students applying for places..."

    Full story in The Guardian at link
    
    Similar story on BBC News
    
    
    
  • Exams 'bore brightest and fail weakest'
    by Anushka Asthana, education correspondent [The Observer]
    
    Experts urge a new look for 'divisive' teenage education with a single English baccalaureate
    
    "Education for teenagers in England and Wales is in crisis, leaving the brightest bored and unchallenged and causing the weakest to flee GCSEs and A-levels like refugees.
    
    "That is the damning assessment of two influential academics from the Institute of Education who will publish a report this week calling for a complete overhaul of the English examination system for 14- to 19-year-olds.."
    
    Full story in The Guardian at link
    
    
    
  • University admissions: State school pupils to get controversial boost
    
    Universities will this week be told they can adopt controversial admissions procedures which make lower offers to pupils from struggling state schools because they show greater "potential" than applicants who have been intensively tutored at private schools.

 

Tuesday 1 July

• The West Australian
  

  • PM’s computer pledge faces $750m blowout (page 11)
    by Andrew Probyn
    
    “Kevin Rudd faces having to find an extra $750 million to implement his key election promise to give all high school students computers, after State premiers demanded the Federal Government cover the set-up costs associated with the $1 billion pledge.

    “With the issue threatening to derail Thursday’s Council of Australian Governments meeting in Sydney, the Prime Minister, who has made a virtue of his commitment to all of his election promises, said the demands were just part of the “normal argy-bargy” of Federal-State negotiations.

    “But documents obtained by the Nine Network show the Government was advised at the weekend to make a secret $245 million payment to NSW to secure its support for the rollout of computers to students from Years 9 to 12 to “avoid a problem”.

    “A briefing note to Treasurer Wayne Swan from his advisers says: “To ensure that the deal remains hidden and seemingly unrelated to COAG, it would be best if the side deal involved a specific capital project in NSW.”

    “The illuminating four-page advice to Mr Swan, apparently left behind in Channel 9’s studios by Mr Swan, apparently left behind in Cannel 9’s studios by Mr Swan or one of his staffers after the Treasurer was interviewed by Ellen Fanning on Sunday, warns that the States had the capacity to “hurt our capacity to end the blame game and to deliver key election commitments”.

    “It would be a mistake to assume that we completely hold the upper hand in COAG,” it says.

    “Although Mr Swan insisted yesterday he never contemplated taking the advice, other States made it clear they were not prepared to subsidise Federal Labor’s election promise by paying for broadband connections, extra power points, higher power bills and improved security.

    “The Federal Government should not expect the States to pay for the implementation of the Federal Government’s policies,” Premier Alan Carpenter said yesterday.

    “If the $245 million being demanded by NSW is extrapolated nationally – and assuming all high schools are of equal need – the Federal Government would face a bill of $750 million for WA.

    “Last month, 38 WA schools shared 3064 computers as part of the $116 million first phase of Labor’s election pledge, necessitating the State to stump up $345,000 for set-up costs.

    “NSW, which has one of the most rundown and neglected education sectors in Australia, got 64 per cent of the funding, followed by Victoria on 17 per cent. WA received just 4 per cent, mainly because it has spent more on school computers over the years than other States.

    “Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said Mr Rudd must assure voters that he was not paying “hush money” to State Labor governments.

    “Are there any other side deals being done with the taxpayers’ chequebook with Labor States in order to keep them quiet?” Dr Nelson said.

    “Mr Rudd said: “This is just normal argy-bargy associated with a negotiation with States and Territories to get good things done.” WA Education Minister Mark McGowan said COAG had agreed that implementation costs would be considered by treasurers when new specific purpose payments were decided at the end of the year.”

    From The West Australian
    
    
    

  • Students swear by English exams (page 31)
    London

    “British high school students are being awarded marks for writing obscene phrases on their English exams because it shows at least some ability to convey a message.

    “A chief examiner responsible for training other markets said yesterday that the phrase “f... off” deserved some marks.

    “Peter Buckroyd said the phrase met the requirements for minimum marks – that students demonstrated some simple sequencing of ideas and some words in appropriate order.

    “Mr Buckroyd, a chief examiner of English for the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, the biggest of three examination boards, said he had given a pupil two marks out of a possible 27 for using the phrase.

    “It would be wicked to give it zero because it does show some very basic skills we are looking for – like conveying some meaning and some spelling,” he said. “It’s better than someone that doesn’t write anything at all. It shows more skills than somebody who leaves the page blank.”

    “Mr Buckroyd is responsible for standards in General Certificate of Secondary Education exams sat by 780,000 students aged 14 to 16 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    “He had told other markers to follow his lead – even if “f... off” was the only thing written on a paper. He used the example to teach examiners the finer points of marking.

    “It elucidates some useful points – it shows some nominal skills but no relevance to the task,” he said.

    “Ofqual, the British Government examinations regulator, did not condemn Mr Buckroyd’s approach.

    “We think it’s important that candidates are able to use appropriate language in a variety of situations but it’s for awarding bodies to develop their mark scheme and for their markers to award marks in line with that scheme,” a spokesman said.

    “However, an AQA spokesman said markers should contact them if swear words were used in an inappropriate manner. He said: “If a candidate’s script contains, for example, obscenities, examiners are instructed to contact AQA’s offices, which will advise them in accordance with Joint Council for Qualification guidelines. Expletives in a script would either be disregarded or sanctioned.”

    “Other examining bodies said their marking schemes would not reward such language.

    “An Edexcel spokesman said: “If the question was ‘Use a piece of Anglo-Saxon English’, they may get a mark, but if they had just written ‘f... off’, they may get sanctioned.

    “If it was graphic or violent they may get no mark for that paper.”

    “The JCQ, which represents exam boards, said examiners had to report inappropriate, offensive or obscene material in papers and the awarding body must investigate.

    “If malpractice is identified, the awarding body will decide on the appropriate sanction, which could include loss of marks or even disqualification,” a spokesman said.”

    From The West Australian
    
    
    

• ABC News
  
  
  • Computer deal will be paid for: Iemma
    
    "New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says he signed up to the Federal Government's computers in schools program because there was an agreement ongoing costs would be met.

    "NSW had been demanding an extra $245 million from the Commonwealth to pay for associated costs like insurance, re-wiring classrooms and software.
    
    "Under the scheme, every student in years nine to 12 will be given access to a computer.
    
    "Mr Iemma says the state will receive $56 million in round one of the program.
    
    "What has happened in discussions with the Commonwealth is a process for those costs to be tested," he said.
    
    "Any additional funding to be considered, so there is compensation to the state and we can make this program more effective."
    
    "He is confident future costs will be addressed.
    
    "I'm confident that we've got a process now that will test the data," he said.
    
    "The Commonwealth has wanted the data tested. They've said ok the states have raised the issue of on costs, what are the elements that make that up?
    
    "We've got to prove our case [and] I'm very confident we can."
    
    "But the Opposition's education spokesman, Andrew Stoner, says he is worried the State Government signed up to the program without securing the federal funding it had previously asked for.
    
    "We've got a Government in disarray in NSW, no full-time education minister, a treasurer who hasn't budgeted for these computers," he said.

    "The latest is that they've kissed and made up, but show us the money."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Neal, Della Bosca refuse police interviews
    
    Federal MP Belinda Neal and her husband, New South Wales MP John Della Bosca, have refused to be interviewed by police over the Iguanas nightclub incident.
    
    
    
  • Della Bosca must face police: Iemma
    
    New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has ordered suspended Education Minister John Della Bosca to be interviewed by police over the Iguanas nightclub incident, even though the MP had earlier refused.
    
    
    
    
• The Sunday Times online / PerthNow
  
  
  • Teacher fee deadline looms
    
    "The WA College of Teaching says about 350 teachers are paying a controversial $70 registration fee each day.
    
    "PerthNow revealed more than a week ago that more than 2500 teachers had not paid.
    
    "WACOT is threatening to deregister those who don't pay the amount by Thursday, raising concerns that this will exacerbate the teacher shortage.
    
    "The college's director Suzanne Parry would not provide the latest figures of teachers who had not paid, but she said that about 350 teachers had been paying each day.
    
    "Dr Parry said she was confident that all those who intended to teach next term would pay.
    
    "She said the ones who would not pay were teachers who had either left WA, or the teaching profession.
    
    "Non-financial members have been advised in writing that if they do not pay by 4pm on July 3 , that deregistration will be effective from 4pm on July 4 ," Dr Parry said.
    
    "It will be a costly and time-consuming process for them if they need to re-register.
    
    "The College Board has urged those who haven't paid to do so promptly so as to minimise the disruption that deregistration would cause in our schools. "
    
    "Meanwhile, the Education Department submitted an enterprise order to the Industrial Relations Commission on Friday, in early steps towards arbitration of the long-running teachers' pay dispute.
    
    "The order contains the department's proposal for teachers' pay and conditions, which the commission will consider. Under the order, teachers would get payrises of between 8.16 per cent and 12.09 per cent over two years.
    
    "But WA State School Teachers' Union President Anne Gisborne said it could be more than three months before the union and the department were in commission hearings where both parties put forward evidence for their own enterprise orders. [emphasis added]
    
    "The commission took over arbitration of the pay deal last month because the WA Government and the union could not reach agreement after more than eight months of wrangling.
    
    "The union is pushing for a 20 per cent-plus pay rise over three years.
    
    "It also wants smaller classes, more preparation time for primary teachers and "appropriate'' administration time for principals and their deputies.
    
    "The Government's last offer, which it withdrew, was nearly 14 per cent, rising with allowances and other factors."
    
    From The Sunday Times online / PerthNow at link
    
    
    
  • Aussies paying five times more to download software
    
    So much for the "global village" - Australians are being charged up to five times more to download the same products as customers in the US.
    
    
    
    
• The Australian
  
  
  • States fall into line and back computer deal
    
    The NSW Government last night backed down and signed up to the commonwealth's $1.2billion computers-in-schools package, saving the Rudd Government from an embarrassing delay to a key election promise.
    
    Similar stories in most daily newspapers
    
    
    
• Fraud-accused college was at top of funding queue
  
  A college under investigation for defrauding more than $3 million from the federal and West Australian governments was among the first recipients of Labor's computers-in-schools program.
  
  
  
  
• The Guardian
  
  
  • Official: some A-level subjects are harder than others
    
    A-levels in maths and science are far harder than in subjects like media studies, large-scale research commissioned by the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society has found. The findings put a question mark both over the value of A-level grades and the Ucas points system, which determines university places for thousands of students every year. Ucas gives the same point score for every subject.
    
    Similar story on BBC News
    
    





• The Age
  
  
• Highly evolved: how Darwin has survived the test of time
  
  When Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was announced at a scientific meeting in 1858, there was surprisingly little fanfare. The head of the group that hosted the meeting even described the year as one without any "striking discoveries" for science.

  But today - exactly 150 years on from that announcement - the event is being remembered as the beginning of a scientific revolution, kicking off more than a year of events celebrating the impact of Darwin's work.
  
  
  

• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Letter to the Editor
    
    
    • Change in parents, as well
      
      "Your report says that parents today do not generally perceive that their children have serious conduct problems, yet teachers do ("The myth of today's troubled children", June 30).
      
      "As a teacher since 1973 (retired one year ago), I have seen a generation of children. In my experience, children are now generally more disruptive and violent, but modern parents do not acknowledge this, due to the cult of preciousness and encouragement of egocentricity that has evolved.

      "If a child was disobedient or violent in the 1970s and '80s, generally a discussion with the parents would result in a workable solution.

      "Now, more frequently the parents inform the teacher that the child's misbehaviour is someone else's fault, or that the teacher is picking on them. Not all parents are this one-eyed, but unfortunately many are."

      Lynda Beck, Rozelle
      
      

Wednesday 2 July

• The West Australian
  
  
  • Teachers stick to course bans (page 12)
    by Bethany Hiatt
    
    "The teachers’ union has ignored advice from the State’s industrial umpire and refused to lift its ban on the implementation of new Year 11 courses in 2009.
      
    "The WA Industrial Relations Commission last week recommended the State School Teachers Union lift its ban, but no formal orders were issued.
      
    "The union’s executive resolved at the weekend not to lift the ban, affecting more than 30 courses starting in 2009. But it agreed to vary the ban just for this week to allow specialist senior teachers who are helping other teachers implement the new courses to continue their preparations.
      
    “We didn’t agree to lift the ban, but we agreed to lift the application of the ban to teacher development centre activities for this week,” SSTU president Anne Gisborne said yesterday. The union has not gone back to the commission.”
      
    "The union is surveying teachers to find out what their extra workload will be if course planning goes ahead and whether they believe curriculum documents and teaching resources are ready for the courses to be introduced to Year 11 students next year. Teachers have until Friday to respond to the online survey.
      
    "Education Minister Mark Mc-Gowan ordered the Department of Education and Training to take the union to the WAIRC for the fifth time this year over its directive to halt planning and preparation for all courses to be introduced in 2009.
      
    "He called on Ms Gisborne to resign her position on the Curriculum Council but she refused.
      
    "Yesterday, a spokeswoman from Mr McGowan’s office said: “The matter is before the commission and we will await the outcome.”
      
    "The union argues that under its ban on unpaid overtime since the start of the year, teachers do not have enough time to prepare lesson plans and assessments for the new courses.
      
    "Many new courses, including chemistry, geography and literature, have been postponed twice because of teachers’ concerns about outcomesbased education assessment and lack of detailed content.
      
    "The Curriculum Council, which is in charge of introducing the senior school courses, says all new Year 11 courses have been finalised and approved for implementation next year. Only the new courses would be counted towards the WA Certificate of Education, which is required for university entrance.
      
    "Independent and Catholic school chiefs have said delaying the courses in State schools while allowing them to go ahead in private schools would be unworkable."
    
    From The West Australian at link
    
    
    
    
  • Students back teacher on pay (page 50)
    by Bethany Hiatt

    “Students at Narrogin Senior High School missed classes for two hours yesterday on the second day of pro­tests in support of teachers' demands for better pay and conditions.
    
    “About half the school's 120 Year 12 students spent the first two hours of the school day yesterday and on Monday protesting at the front of the school.
    
    “Year 12 prefect Paul Pivac, 17, said students would do the same every day this week, culminating in an all-day protest on Friday. The sit-in had been planned for the past few months.
    
    “Even though a ban on unpaid overtime by the State School Teach­ers Union had resulted in students missing excursions and events such as Country Week, the biggest school sporting event in W A, Paul said Narrogin students backed the teachers' demands. "We think they're entitled to demand more money for their pro­fession," he said.
    
    “Narrogin principal Tim Martin said students were well behaved and wearing school uniform but he had asked them to reconsider the decision to protest.
    
    “He said while students had offered support to teachers' pay demands, he believed the protest was mainly because they had missed out on Country Week, which started today.
    
    "I empathise with them," he said. "Country Week is a major issue in their lives, particularly for the Year 12s who didn't go last year.
                                                
    “Students were also concerned they would miss out on their gradu­ation ceremony and dinner, but Mr Marlin said they would go ahead, though they may have to be held during school hours instead of at night.
    
    “Younger students from: Years 8 to 11 who tried to join the protest were sent back to class. "We had a talk to them and said this is really a  Year 12 issue, because the Year 11s can go (to Country Week) next year," he said.
    
    “Country Week, which runs until Friday, was scaled back dramatical­ly this year as a result of the pay stoush between the State Govern­ment and teachers.

    “Only 27 schools are participating this year compared with 39 last year. The number of students tak­ing part was also reduced from about 3000 to 1500 with the State's biggest high schools among those pulling out of the 81-year-old event because of the union directive ban­ning unpaid overtime.”

    From The West Australian
    
    
    

• ABC News
  
  
  • Scottish teachers head to WA regional areas
    
    "The Department of Education has recruited 50 Scottish teachers to work in regional schools in Western Australia.

    "The department says it now has more than 150 overseas teachers available to begin work in rural schools next year.

    "Already 63 overseas teachers have been sponsored on 457 visas to work in Western Australia.

    "Most have come from the United Kingdom."

    From ABC News at link
    
    
    
  • Oppn slams Govt Catholic school funding 'blunder'
    
    "The Victorian Government has accused the Opposition of making a major blunder in its funding announcement for Catholic schools.

    "Two years out from the next state election, the Opposition has got on the front foot by pledging almost $400 million for Catholic education in Victoria.
    
    "Liberal leader Ted Baillieu says the funding would be rolled out over four years.
    
    "We have to ensure that we have the best education system in Australia," he said.
    
    "But Labor MP Jacinta Allan has accused Mr Baillieu of making a major blunder in his policy document, which states funding will commence in the middle of next year.

    "The next state election is not due until November 2010, representing a $90 million mistake."

    "Ms Allan says the Government is in the middle of delivering its own education agreement and would not match the Liberal's offer.."
    
    From ABC News at link
    
    
    

• The Sydney Morning Herald
  
  
  • Gillard to copy UK teacher campaign
    by Anna Patty, Education Editor
    
    "The Federal Government plans to emulate a British recruitment campaign that has been credited with boosting its ailing number of teachers.

    "Australia faces a looming teacher shortage, with half the profession approaching retirement within the next 10 years.
    
    "The Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said yesterday she had been inspired by the success of the British campaign that carried slogans such as "Those who can, teach" and "Use your head: teach".
    
    "She credited the drive with helping to make teaching one of the most popular graduate career choices since its introduction in 2000. The campaign sparked a reported 49 per cent increase in inquiries from prospective teacher graduates in its first year.
    
    "Ms Gillard said she would look at introducing a similar program to encourage the "best and brightest" of university graduates to enter the teaching profession.
    
    "The UK has made remarkable progress in taking the selection of teaching right up to the top of the pops for people in the UK," said Ms Gillard after she had addressed the City of London Corporation.
    
    "I am exploring the possibility of similar campaigns in Australia, combined with measures to help ensure that the best teachers are able to teach in the most challenging and rewarding locations.

    "There is a lot for Australia to learn from these programs. We believe that there is nothing more valuable you can do for your nation than go into teaching and we want to reinforce that."

    "Ms Gillard declined to commit to improving teacher salaries to improve the profession's status.
    
    "However, she has indicated that she favours a system of performance pay for quality teachers that is linked to a broad range of measures. This would be negotiated with the states and territories as part of a new national education partnership. [emphasis added]

    "We want to make sure that excellent teachers are valued," she said yesterday.

    "The Howard government's model of performance pay was rejected by teachers and Labor because of its strong link between student results and teacher pay increases.

    "Angelo Gavrielatos, the president of the Australian Education Union, said federal and state governments had been full of platitudes when it came to the issue of increasing teacher numbers.

    "The best advice for the Government and the minister is that with respect to strategies aimed at attracting and retaining teachers, what is required is a competitive professional salary for teachers and an appropriate level of recognition and respect for the profession by our elected leaders," he said.

    "That is demonstrated by recognising the importance and value of teachers and adequately funding our public schools.

    "For far too long we have had nothing more than platitudes."

    From The Sydney Morning Herald at link
    
    
    
  • Op Ed
    For P---'s sake, what's in a name?
    by Alan Marel
    
    "The English language is being slowly and stealthily destroyed. Not, as you might imagine, by the lazy, the ignorant or the ill-educated, but by the legal system worldwide.

    "We have been instructed that only beverages from Champagne and Burgundy may be referred to as such. I can buy "parmesan-style" cheese but real parmesan must originate from one specific region only. The thin edge of the wedge appeared last month with reports of the legal attempt in Greece to prevent anyone but those born on the island of Lesbos from calling themselves lesbians. Don't these people have anything better to clog up their courts with?

    "If this latest action is successful, where will it all end? Children arrested in the playground for giving another child a Chinese burn that did not originate in China? And what will become of crockery? Certainly china no more. We'll need to rename brussels sprouts, English muffins, french fries and kiwi fruit (again), Afghan hounds, frankfurts, chelsea buns, scotch and so on. The list is enormous, and don't think it stops there..."
    
    Full story in The Sydney Morning Herald at link
    
    
    

  • Letter to the Editor
    

    • Computers alone not enough
      
      "I applaud the provision of more than 200 computers for our local high school ("NSW folds in computer dispute", July 1), but I am concerned they will become a white elephant if neither the state nor federal governments offers continued funding. Where will they be securely stored? Who will be responsible for their installation on the school network and the variety of curriculum-specific software? Who will maintain them? Do schools have a qualified staff member whose sole job is IT? What about further training for teachers to be able to incorporate IT into lessons?

      "Providing hardware is not enough. Education is an investment. It costs. The sooner both governments provide the funds for the real support of the digital education revolution, the better."

      Sharon McGuinness, Thirroul
      
      
      

• The Melbourne Herald Sun
  
  
  • Image boost vow on schools by Bronwyn Pike
    by Karen Collier
    
    "Education Minister Bronwyn Pike yesterday vowed to correct an impression that government schooling was a system of last resort.

    "She said too many people had lost confidence in public schools, and pledged to rebuild faith in the system.
    
    "Ms Pike's candid admission follows a boom in enrolments at private schools in Victoria and nationally over the past decade.
    
    "She said it was unfair to cast government schools as poor cousins or a last resort.
    
    "A lot of people think the public system is the system you go to when you can't afford the private system," Ms Pike told the Herald Sun.
    
    "I would like parents to feel they have a genuine choice, not a default choice."

    "Her pledge to restore confidence came ahead of the release of a key report setting out the state's education agenda for the next five years.

    "The education blueprint will focus on fostering a culture of excellence across all schools, and boosting the performance of struggling pupils..."
    
    Full story in The Melbourne Herald Sun at link
    
    
    

• The Australian
  
  
  • Bradley warns of 'brave' changes
    by Andrew Trounson
    
    "Denise Bradley has put the federal Government on notice that her review of higher education is considering sweeping and brave changes to the sector that may require substantial political will if they are to beimplemented.

    "At a Monday night seminar where the vice-chancellors of Canberra and Melbourne universities canvassed the need for universities to specialise and merge, as well as a greater role for market forces, Professor Bradley said the review panel had "a mind to be brave".

    "But in a clear message to Education Minister Julia Gillard, Professor Bradley said that, should the panel be courageous, there would be "the second question on whether people are willing to take it forward".

    "There is concern about political will coming up (from our consultations)," she told the seminar at the University of Melbourne on Monday night.

    "She said the Government faced a potential political minefield and noted that the architect of the present system, former federal education minister John Dawkins, had needed to rely on considerable threat and charm to get his reforms through.

    "Some of us who were here 20 years ago are aware of the massive personal effort that John Dawkins put into that, and the mix of charm and threat that he used; largely threat, but he could be charming when he wanted to," Professor Bradley said.

    "Earlier she told HES that the panel's consultations with the sector were throwing up plenty of complaints but few solutions.

    "The consultations are suggesting that people are ready to talk about change but it would be true to say that people are bit better on problem definition than they are on solution finding at the moment," Professor Bradley said..."
    
    Full story in The Australian at link
    
    See related story in The Age
    
    
    

  • Industry keen on market-oriented VET
    
    Moves to overhaul the TAFE sector nationally in line with contentious market-oriented reforms proposed in Victoria gathered pace yesterday.
    
    
    
  • Unlock creativity in hard sciences
    by Guy Healy
    
    "Norman Jackson spent eight years searching for minerals in the deserts and mountains of Saudi Arabia as a geologist before he became a professor of higher education at the University of Surrey in Britain.

    "The transformation of his career probably owes a lot to his belief that professional practice, even in scientific fields such as engineering and medicine, relies on hidden creativity.

    "Professor Jackson, co-editor of Developing Creativity in Higher Education: An Imaginative Curriculum, was in Brisbane last week for a Queensland University of Technology forum.

    "Being able to inquire productively, being able to find out the things you need to find out to do the things you need to do, is now being resurrected in the context of how we prepare learners," Professor Jackson said.

    "Not for just their first job -- which is what we have been doing for a long time in higher education -- but for 10, 20 years down the line, when the jobs they will end up in are probably jobs they will create themselves, that don't exist at the moment and (use) technologies that haven't been invented yet and the problems they will be addressing have not been imagined, so how canwe prepare people for that sort of world?" ...
    
    Full story in The Australian at link

    
    
  • Quality reforms 'may harm research'
    
    Researchers have expressed serious concerns over the federal Government's proposed research performance exercise, warning key measures will not be accepted and that it risks downgrading cutting-edge research.
    
    
    
• School takes its first carbon footstep into the future
  
  Sydney's St Ignatius College Riverview is going further than planting trees and picking up rubbish in an effort to save the environment.

  The school is the first Australian user of innovative software that uses smart metering to track, manage and report on energy use.

  
  
  
• The Age
  
  
  • Homeless crisis at top university
    by Farrah Tomazin
    
    "The Rudd Government is facing pressure to boost income support for tertiary students, as Victoria's most distinguished institution — Melbourne University — reveals that hundreds of its students are homeless due to rising living costs.

  "The head of the Government's higher education review, Denise Bradley, has signalled she will urge an overhaul of schemes such as Youth Allowance and Austudy, amid complaints that they are either too hard to qualify for, or insufficient to live on.

  "She revealed the push as the vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, Glyn Davis, said 440 students were in effect homeless, "hot-bedding" with relatives or friends because they could not afford their own residence.

  "Painting a grim picture of student life, Professor Davis said a recent analysis found the majority of students were studying part time, with many working more than 20 hours a week to cope with rising living costs..."
  
  Full story in The Age at link

 

Thursday 3 July

• The West Australian
  
  
  • Alston (page 20)


© The West Australian

 

• Number of teachers facing ban kept secret [Front Page]
  by Bethany Hiatt

  “WA’s teacher registration body has refused to reveal how many teachers face being banned from the classroom for failing to pay their compulsory annual fee, which is due by 4pm today.

  “Teachers face instant suspension when the school term ends tomorrow if they haven’t paid the $70 fee to the WA College of Teaching.

  “The registration issue could have a big impact on schools, with the State’s teacher shortage meaning there are already no relief teachers in store to replace those who may be suspended.

  “Two weeks ago, WACOT warned that more than 2000 teachers faced the prospect of deregistration for not paying their fee, which was due in March. But director Suzanne Parry yesterday refused to divulge the number who still had not paid, saying the figures were changing constantly.

  “We are not going to release those figures while schools and the college are still working on contacting people,” she said. “We’re also processing a high volume of people who have written to us to let us know they need their registration cancelled because they are no longer teaching or are no longer in WA.”

  “Dr Parry said the number of teachers who had not paid had fallen significantly in the past two weeks. It was now a small percentage of WACOT’s 45,000 members. She was confident schools would have enough teachers when classes resume next term.

  “Teachers must be registered with WACOT to be able to teach in WA. Those who let their membership lapse are barred from classrooms until they go through a time-consuming and expensive process to rejoin.

  “In 2007, hundreds of teachers refused to pay their annual fee until the last minute in protest over the long delay of an election of 10 teachers to the college board.

  “This year, Dr Parry said a small group of teachers had taken the opportunity to protest because they were disenchanted with the profession, curriculum changes and the pay dispute with the Government.

  “Shadow education minister Peter Collier said teachers were using non-payment of WACOT fees as a symbol of their frustration with the way Education Minister Mark McGowan had mismanaged the education portfolio.

  “Anger within the profession has reached fever pitch among teachers,” he said. “I don’t think that they have an issue against WACOT, I think it’s a professional statement against the Department of Education and Training and the Government.” Mr McGowan said.  Mr Collier was running down public education and refusing to come clean on whether the Opposition would accept the teachers union’s list of demands in the pay dispute.

  “Mr McGowan said schools were waiting on advice from WACOT as to how many teachers failed to register by the deadline.

  DET deputy director-general Margery Evans said: “Parents can be reassured that there will be no disruption in public schools arising out of the possible deregistering of teachers by WACOT.”

  “Association of Independent Schools of WA deputy director Valerie Gould said principals were pressuring those teachers who had not paid to do so.”

  From The West Australian
  
  

  
  
• Op Ed
  School computer plan must extract the digital (page 20)
  by Paul Murray

  “The half-baked nature of Kevin Rudd’s election promise to put a computer in front of every senior high school student is becoming increasingly apparent.
  
  “A $1 billion headline-grabbing poll commitment, used to counter the Liberal Party’s bombshell tax cuts pledge in the first week of last year’s campaign, is rapidly becoming a $2 billion face in reality.
  
  “And for that $2 billion, there is no guarantee of any improvement in education standards.“In fact, the Rudd Government has at no time sought to make a case explaining the benefits of giving all Year 9 to 12 students access to their own computer.
  
  “There is an absolute dearth of international research supporting such a move. This is another of Mr Rudd’s “symbolic” gestures that resonate well with the public, but don’t stand up to scrutiny.
  
  “Just as ominous as the lack of a supporting case is Mr Rudd’s decision to throw an extra $750 million into the project this week when the States refused to pick up the costs of implementing the scheme.
  
  “The Treasury has been treated as a bottomless pit. And the way in which the extra money came to be paid to the unhappy States is murky indeed.
  
  “Documents carelessly left behind in a Channel 9 studio on Sunday by Treasurer Wayne Swan – not the first time he’s been caught out like that – show the Government was advised to make a secret $245 million payment to NSW to silence its opposition before the Council of Australian Governments meeting today.
  
  “A briefing note to Mr Swan said: “To ensure that the deal remains hidden and seemingly unrelated to COAG, it would be best if the side deal involved a specific capital project in NSW.”
  
  “The advisers warned that the States’ refusal to pay for broadband connections, extra power points, higher power bills and improved security had the ability to “hurt our capacity to end the blame game and to deliver key election commitments”.
  
  “Mr Swan says he never contemplated taking the advice to hide the payment. That is irrelevant. That a senior government officer felt comfortable making that sort of unethical advice to the Treasurer is alarming. In fact, it deserves investigation, if not by the Auditor-General, then a parliamentary committee.
  
  “But back to the major issue: the spending of $2 billion on a grand gesture.
  
  “There is no evidence of performance benefits for students on the “Digital Education Revolution” website set up by the Federal Department for Education to sell this policy.
  
  “In a list of Frequently Asked Questions there’s nothing like: Why are we doing this? There is no evidence showing that in certain countries student performance increased by a measurable amount after there was uniform access to computers.
  
  “The only bit of research available is the Partnerships in ICT Learning Study, which, it should be said, was heavily influenced by the Australian Council for Computers in Education, hardly a group without an iron in the fire.
  
  “The purpose of the PICTL study was to demonstrate good-practice approaches to embedding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) throughout the educational experience of pre-service teachers, teachers and teacher educators,” the report says.
  
  “However, some of its statements make you wonder what we’ll get from $2 billion.
  
  “The situation in Australia appears similar to the US and Europe,” the report says. “There is evidence of some enhancements and developments to the learning process, but the teaching profession at large remains sceptical.
  
  “Also, despite positive opinions being offered by proponents of ICT there are limited documented profound improvements across the curriculum in the areas of learning or teaching.”
  
  “So why are we spending the money? The report does give a glimpse into the sort of psychobabble on which the Rudd decision was based.
  
  “This excerpt comes from a section headed “NSW – evidence of success” and reports on computer learning programs undertaken with teachers: “Teachers reported using new strategies to record more holistic assessment in classrooms after the experience of the project. There was evidence of teachers’ determination to set new personal teaching-related challenges and to accelerate their own professional journey. A shift in concerns was noticed from implementation issues and whether ideas were practical to teachers being excited about the potential of rethinking their own practice. There were signs of development of a new culture in professional practice and conversations.”
  
  “That is so-called evidence of success. Have a go at this waffle about “success” in WA: “A number of teachers in school setting created a momentum for activity or extending activity. It was established that whole-of-school approaches have the most potential to shift school momentum and generate a culture of reflective dialogue about using ICT in a school setting.”
  
  “There is precious little hard international evidence that giving every student a computer can be economically justified.
  
  “A recent study from the decidedly left-wing London School of Economics found some improvement in English and science, but “for mathematics, the impact of ICT on test scores is very close to zero”.
  
  “So, unlike previous economic studies, this research finds evidence of a positive casual impact of ICT investment on educational performance in primary schools,” the report said.
  
  “As it admits, that study is at odds with most of the available international research.

  “So just what did Mr Rudd use to frame his now $2 billion policy?”

  From The West Australian
  
  
  
  
• Universities seek big rise in money (page10)
  by Andrew Tillett

  “WA universities will demand a big increase in funding including being allowed to set their own fees today when they meet a federal panel examining the future of the country’s higher education system.
  
  “Two days of talks begin in Perth between the panel and senior academics from the WA, Curtin, Edith Cowan and Murdoch universities.
  
  “The universities say they will struggle to maintain their quality of education and research without a radical overhaul in how they are funded.
  
  “UWA is set to propose a five-point plan to let it to compete with international institutions.
  
  “Registrar Peter Curtis said it wanted the Federal Government to give universities greater autonomy to set course fees, decide what subjects they would offer and the number of places.
  
  “Mr Curtis said that if universities could set their fees, they could recruit the best teaching and research talent. Scholarships would be made available for poorer students and other universities could set lower fees to offer a more basic education.
  
  “The university is being asked to be internationally competitive but at the moment it is being shackled,” he said.
  
  “Curtin University acting Vice-Chancellor Robyn Quin said it wanted more money for its regional campuses, which were more expensive to run.

  “Edith Cowan University Vice-Chancellor Kerry Cox and Murdoch University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Jan Thomas said the Government needed to index annual grants by the full consumer price index.”

  From The West Australian
  
  
  

• SSTUWA Media Release
  
  
  • Government Submission An Insult!
    by Anne Gisborne
    
    
    Negotiations in the WA Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) over the wages and conditions for teachers over the next two years will be long, drawn out and bitter, according to the President of the State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia (SSTUWA) Ms Anne Gisborne.
     
    “After receiving the Twomey Report it appears that the Government and the Department have done their very best to ignore most of the recommendations and headed down a path that will see the status of teaching fall, the teacher shortage getting worse and the children of Western Australians receiving a poorer level of education,” she said today.
     
    Ms Gisborne said that it would apply to Government schools and private schools because private schools invariably follow the benchmark set by the State system.
     
    “At a time of crisis in education, this Carpenter Government has missed an opportunity to step up to the plate and hit a home run on behalf of public education, students and the W.A. community and economy. Rather, it appears to want a prolonged tussle in the mud … an approach which the Union believes will be detrimental to teachers and administrators working for DET,” she said.
     
    “The Department’s submission to the WAIRC fails to address the issues of workload but rather dramatically increases it,” said Ms Gisborne.
     
    “On top of the current workload teachers would be forced to attend extra weekly staff meetings, participate in 15 hours of professional development, undertake voluntary duties such as schools camps and stay in their classrooms for an extra 15 minutes each day,” she said.
     
    “All references to work-life balance have been removed, nothing is offered in relation to class sizes, all references to a career path have been removed and significant clauses relating to inclusion, behavior management and other factors have been stripped,” she added.
     
    “The submission by the so-called Labor Government is nothing more than a recipe for an increase in the bitter divide between teachers and their employer, a massive increase in the teacher shortage and the resulting drop in educational standards in this State,” said Ms Gisborne.
     
    The Union has appointed one of the nation’s preeminent QC’s Mordy Bromberg to handle its case in the WAIRC.
    
    From SSTUWA at link
    
    
    
    
• The Sunday Times online / PerthNow
  
  
  • 800 WA teachers pay fees on last day
    by Paul Lampathakis
    
    "Nearly 800 teachers appear to have paid registration fees today in the face of a 4pm deadline that could have cost their jobs and left schools struggling.

    "The deadline for the controversial $70 registration fees was 4pm today.

    "Teachers who haven't paid will be deregistered by the WA College of Teaching from 4pm tomorrow.

    "WACOT director Suzanne Parry still refuses to reveal how many teachers have yet to pay from the more than 2500 who had not paid about 12 days ago, as revealed by PerthNow.

    "Dr Parry said it would be some days before WACOT got the final figures. So any numbers she released now would not be "meaningful''.

    "I can tell you that today we took more almost 600 phonecalls,'' Dr Parry said. "We also received 200 emails.

    "The majority of those were payments.

    "We don't believe that anybody who needs to be teaching Monday fortnight (Term 3) is not going to be able to do so.''

    "Dr Parry, who previously indicated that WACOT was receiving about 350 payments daily, today said that the history of last minute payments in past years and this year's last minute surge made her confident that most teachers would pay.

    "She said WACOT would release final figures when it was "absolutely certain of our position''.

    "Education Minister Mark McGowan has previously confirmed that if WACOT deregistered teachers, the Education Department and other employers were obliged by law to stop them teaching.

    "On June 21 Dr Parry confirmed that more than 2500 teachers had not paid their fees, but said at the time that considerably fewer than 2000 were still in WA schools.

    "But PerthNow also revealed at the time that some WA schools faced shortages of up to 11 teachers because groups were not paying in protest.

    "Teachers had said that pockets of eight to 11 teachers at individual schools were not paying their fees because they were "p....d off with the way public education is being handled by this Government'', including the pay dispute.

    "WACOT director Suzanne Parry said on June 21: "The feedback is that (such groups) are generally discontented with the general state of the profession and that they're protesting at whatever point they find.''

    "Last year, WACOT came under fire from teachers who did not want to pay the fee because the college hadn't abided by its own Act and had board members elected by teachers.

    "But WACOT had an election which closed on December 10, that saw members of the anti-outcomes-based education group, People Lobbying Against Teaching Outcomes, win six of the 10 teacher-elected positions.

    "There are another nine board members appointed by the WA Education Minister." [emphasis added]
    
    From The Sunday Times online / PerthNow at link
    
    
    

  • Parents warned of bitter schools battle [based on the union media release, above]
    by John Flint
    
    "WA's teacher's union today foreshadowed a "long and bitter" battle with the Carpenter Government over wages and conditions.

    "The State School Teachers’ Union was responding to the Education Department's submission to the WA Industrial Relations Commission, which is acting as umpire.
    
    “The Department’s submission to the WAIRC fails to address the issues of workload but rather dramatically increases it,” said union president Anne Gisborne.
    
    “After receiving the Twomey Report it appears that the Government and the Department have done their very best to ignore most of the recommendations and headed down a path that will see the status of teaching fall, the teacher shortage getting worse and the children of Western Australians receiving a poorer level of education,” she added.
    
    “At a time of crisis in education, this Carpenter Government has missed an opportunity to step up to the plate and hit a home run on behalf of public education, students and the W.A. community and economy.

    "Rather, it appears to want a prolonged tussle in the mud … an approach which the Union believes will be detrimental to teachers and administrators working for DET,” she said.
    
    "Referring to the Education Department's submission to the WAIRC she said:

    “On top of the current workload teachers would be forced to attend extra weekly staff meetings, participate in 15 hours of professional development, undertake voluntary duties such as schools camps and stay in their classrooms for an extra 15 minutes each day.
    
    “All references to work-life balance have been removed, nothing is offered in relation to class sizes, all references to a career path have been removed and significant clauses relating to inclusion, beha