ABC News Daily Who’s to blame for declining school results?
Feb 2, 2025
In this discussion, Connor Duffy, ABC's education reporter, dives into the troubling decline in Australian students' literacy and numeracy skills. He reveals that one-third of students fail to meet basic benchmarks, while those from non-English backgrounds often excel. Duffy emphasizes the critical role of parental engagement in boosting educational success and showcases a school that has transformed its teaching methods for better results. He also touches upon the ongoing debate between inquiry-based learning and explicit instruction in the education system.
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Declining Student Performance
- Australian students are falling behind in literacy and numeracy, with one-third not meeting minimum benchmarks.
- International testing shows a consistent decline over two decades, lagging behind other countries like China.
Immigrant Student Success
- Immigrant students (LBOTE) in Australia outperform non-immigrant peers, unlike trends in other Western countries.
- This is observed across multiple metrics, with LBOTE students being one and a half years ahead in numeracy by year nine.
Parental Engagement Matters
- Prioritize education in the home and reinforce lessons to increase student success.
- Parental engagement, education levels, and home resources significantly impact student performance.