‘We’ve Got to Close This Education Gap’: Education Minister Responds to Panel’s Review

Education Minister Jason Clare has vowed to close the funding gap between public and private schools, saying that students from poor families are “three times more likely to fall behind.” The comment came in light of a comprehensive independent panel’s review released on Dec. 11, which is set to affect policy making in the next five years. The panel was set up ahead of the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) report which was postponed until 2025. The NSRA would set out multi-year reform objectives and funding arrangements for schooling that the Commonwealth and state governments need to follow. The panel’s much-anticipated report identified seven main challenges that Australia’s education system faces, including declining learning outcomes, growing equity gap, mental health and wellbeing issues, teacher shortages, limitations in data, and lack of transparency in funding arrangements....