Fighting for Equity in Education

School Choice Increases the Social Divide in Education

A major new study of school choice in England has found that it compounds the social divide in education. Whilst parents do not admit to choosing schools on the basis of their social composition, this happens in practice. < >> Read on...

OECD Study Says that Markets Fail to Increase Innovation in Education

A new study published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found that markets in education do not lead to innovation in teaching and curriculum – rather it is government intervention which is more likely to create improvements. >> Read on...

Unregulated School Choice Exacerbates Segregation and Inequity

New research studies continue to demonstrate the harmful consequences of greater choice and competition in schooling. >> Read on...

More Evidence that Gillard’s Faith in Competition is Misplaced

Just as John Howard and David Kemp did, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have placed their faith in competition to improve school performance. This faith is proving entirely misplaced. >> Read on...

Rudd’s Market Paradoxes

As far as education policy is concerned, the Rudd Government has given John Howard and David Kemp another term in office. It is completing Kemp’s vision to subject education to the rule of market forces. < >> Read on...

The Free Market and the Social Divide in Education

In this speech to the national Public Education forum on 28 March, SOS National Convenor, Trevor Cobbold,argues that the right to a successful education for all is being undermined by subjecting schooling to the market forces of competition, choice and privatisation. >> Read on...

New Study Shows that Public Schools Do Better Than Private Schools in Maths

A new US study has found that public school students out-perform private school students in maths. >> Read on...

New study shows that competition and choice do not raise student achievement

New research rejects the notion that reporting individual school results will better inform parent choice of schools and that competition between schools for enrolments will act as an incentive for schools to improve student achievement.

New research does not support this assumption. >> Read on...

Market Dogma Won’t Do

Trevo Cobbold critiques a recent article by Henry Ergas, head of the Asia-Pacific Division of CRA International, an international consultancy firm, vigorously defends the Howard Government’s record on education and other issues. >> Read on...