Latest news with #educationreform
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Federal government to legislate student debt relief, 20 per cent cut for all HECS
The Albanese government has chosen their first winners in the new parliament, as it promises to shave 20 per cent off all student debt in its first sitting week. Labor is set to introduce legislation as parliament returns this week that will wipe $16bn in student debt for approximately three million Australians. It will target loans including HELP debt, VET loans and apprenticeship loans. According to calculations from the government someone with the average HELP debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their outstanding loans. People at the upper end of debt, exceeding $60,000, could see a reduction of more than $12,000. The legislation, if it passes, will also raised the minimum repayment threshold from $54,000 to $67,000, meaning low-income earners will not have to start paying back their debt. Following the passage debt-holders will not have to do anything to get the reduction, it will be applied by the Australian Taxation Office automatically. Education Minister Jason Clare said the change would 'take a lot of weight off the shoulders' for recent graduates 'You don't start paying off your university degree until your degree starts to pay off for you,' he said. The reform was first promised in November 2024, well before the election, after the government changed the way student loans were indexed. At the time this brought down student debts by about $3bn. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the 20 per cent reduction following the indexation reform as a pitch for his government to make the education system 'fairer and affordable for every Australian'. 'No matter where you live or how much your parents earn, my Government will work to ensure the doors of opportunity are open for you,' Mr Albanese said in November. Now, with the new Parliament beginning on Tuesday, the government is promising the 20 per cent cut will be the first thing it does. 'We promised cutting student debt would be the first thing we did back in Parliament,' Mr Albanese said. 'And this week we're introducing the legislation to make it happen. 'Because getting an education shouldn't mean a lifetime of debt.' The legislation will be introduced on Tuesday, but the government will need the support of either the Greens of the Coalition to get the it through the Senate. This means it will likely be a few weeks before it actually comes into effect. Both the Greens and the Coalition have indicated they are unlikely to block the bill, but both have voiced concerns. Liberal education spokesman Jonno Duniam told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday that Australians 'spoke pretty clearly at the last election' about this key Labor policy. 'We're not really in business of standing in the way of cost-of-living relief,' Senator Duniam said. 'We'll go through our process but I expect this will pass the parliament.' For their part, the Greens requested the Parliamentary Library analyse how much the debt reforms will reduce balances since 2022. It found that a student who had a $30,000 debt in 2022 would have a $27,619 debt after the 20 per cent cut, meaning it would only be a 7.9 per cent cut on that 2022 level. This is because student debt increases each year relative to inflation. The Greens position is that it wants all student debt to be wiped and free university and TAFE to be reintroduced. Greens higher education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said that 'one-off debt reduction won't fix the enormous burden' of university fees and outstanding student debt. 'Of course any student debt relief is better than none, but we are demanding all student debt be wiped and a return to free uni and TAFE, funded by taxing big corporations to pay their fair share,' she said. Student debt massively increased since the previous Coalition government introduced its 'Job-Ready Graduates' scheme in 2021 which increased the costs students have to pay for degrees that were purportedly less desirable. This was designed to incentivise students to study degrees in fields such as science and engineering. In practice there was only a marginal reduction in the number of students studying arts degrees, but the costs for those courses increased as much as 140 per cent – massively increasing the debt burden for some students.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Labor's signature Hecs debt relief will be introduced to parliament this week. Here's what it means for you
When Anthony Albanese fronted the media in November to announce Labor would cut 20% of all student debt if he won government, he described the move as 'about opening the doors of opportunity – and widening them'. Almost nine months later, the key election promise will be among the first pieces of legislation the federal government introduces when parliament returns on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about how it will work, who it will help, and what's missing. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email If the legislation passes, 20% of student debt will be wiped from the 3 million Australians with outstanding loans, equivalent to around $16bn according to the federal government. The minimum repayment threshold will also be raised from $54,000 to $67,000, which is expected to save the average debt holder about $680 a year, and reduce the amount low income earners have to pay. The measures are being sold as providing cost-of-living relief for young Australians, who hold the bulk of student debt. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the education minister, Jason Clare, said the average Australian with a student debt would have about $5,500 shaved off their loans. For Australians on an average income of $70,000, he said the bill would reduce the minimum amount they were required to repay by about $1,300. 'It'll take a lot of weight off the shoulders of a lot of young Australians who are just out of uni … looking to move out of home or save up to get a mortgage,' Clare said. 'You don't start paying off your university degree until your degree starts to pay off for you.' Students have broadly welcomed the changes, while arguing they don't go far enough. The president of the National Union of Students, Ashlyn Horton, said cutting debt was a 'long overdue move' that indicated Canberra 'might finally be listening' to concern about the rising cost of degrees. But she said the bill 'doesn't come close to fixing the structural mess that got us here'. 'The core problem remains: students are still paying some of the highest fees in the Oecd under a system that punishes them for choosing the 'wrong' degree,' she said. 'That system has a name – the Job-Ready Graduates package (JRG) – and Labor has left it untouched.' The Coalition's widely canned JRG scheme drastically increased the prices of arts degrees, which cost $50,000 as of 2024, to incentive students into other courses. The Greens and the Coalition haven't confirmed whether they will support the Labor bill but sources have suggested it would be unlikely for them not to back it, given the demand for cost-of-living relief. On Sunday, the shadow education minister, Jonathon Duniam, indicated the Coalition wouldn't block the bill in parliament despite still holding some concerns. 'We're not really in the business of standing in the way of cost-of-living relief … [and] it is one of those things that Australians wanted, they voted for,' he said. 'We've expressed our concerns. Australians have had their say. We've got to move on.' While proving to be a popular policy among voters, the bill has been critiqued for not addressing the root of student debt – which is indexation and the rising cost of degrees. Analysis conducted by the parliamentary library for the Greens and provided exclusively to Guardian Australia shows the 20% cut will be reduced to just 8% since Labor entered office when accounting for indexation since the 2022 election. That's despite the federal government's changes to indexation by tying Hecs/Help debts to whatever is lesser out of the wage price index (WPI) or consumer price index (CPI). For instance, a student debt balance of $30,000 in 2022 would have had their debts rise to $33,454 before the student debt reduction as a result of indexation. Following the 20% cut, their debt would drop to $26,763, and with 2025 indexation, rise to $27,619 – just 7.9% less than in 2022. The modelling assumes no repayments had been made. The Greens' deputy leader and spokesperson on higher education, Mehreen Faruqi, said 'Labor crowing about a small one-off debt reduction won't fix the enormous burden of uni fees or student debt that keeps growing every year'. 'Of course any student debt relief is better than none, but we are demanding all student debt be wiped and a return to free uni and Tafe, funded by taxing big corporations,' she said. Clare has flagged that more will be done in Labor's second term to reform the higher education sector, but it may not happen fast. This year, the federal government is planning to introduce legislation to improve the integrity of the international education system, and to permanently establish a new Australian tertiary education commission. The independent body was a recommendation of the Universities Accord, handed down early last year. A priority of the commission will be reforming the pricing of degrees, including introducing needs-based-funding into higher education, as is being rolled out at primary and secondary schools. On Wednesday, Clare confirmed that part of its work on funding would be assessing the JRG package, without a timeframe for reform.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Government shuts the door on open-plan classrooms
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the move at Wellington's Newlands Intermediate School today. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii The government has called a halt to building open-plan classrooms, even though most teachers who actually use the structures believe their students benefit from them. The buildings - known variously as modern, flexible, or innovative learning environments - have attracted consistent criticism, with some schools spending their own funds remodelling the rooms to create separate classrooms. But surveys by the Council for Educational Research showed most teachers who worked in the structures liked them and believed their students benefited from learning in that kind of environment. At Wellington's Newlands Intermediate School today, Education Minister Erica Stanford said she had been thinking about the issue for a long time. "This government is calling time on open-plan classrooms. We will no longer be building those barn-yard-style open classrooms without any doors that separate classrooms," she said. Stanford said successive governments had been flip-flopping between open plan and single-cell classrooms for years. She said the big open spaces were too noisy and distracting for many children, and they would learn better in individual classrooms. "My message to parents is that your children will be learning in single-cell classrooms that are modular so there will be open-and-close sliding doors that will allow for those classrooms to become bigger for when events require," she said. "But when they are learning using explicit teaching, the new curriculum, the new maths books they will be learning in single-cell classrooms." Newlands Intermediate School principal Chris Els said modern learning environments had their place - but they had drawbacks too. "For neuro-diverse kids, kids that are struggling - really hard. Then you have your kids who know how to hide within the nooks and crannies of open learning spaces, so a lot relied on teachers to know their learner but you'd have the same in a single-cell. Personal preference, I like the idea of a flexible, open-up-close-when-you-can. It gives options," he said. Stanford visited the school to announced that it would get 10 new classrooms. Els said he did not know how often his teachers might want to open the glass doors the minister mentioned and turn their single-cell classrooms into a big open room. "You basically are trying to create an environment that best suits both student and teacher. So if it needs to open and they can work together, so be it," he said. "It depends on what the curriculum area is. If it needs quiet, the door gets closed and if that's the case those kids work within the single-cell." While Stanford said the overwhelming feedback from schools was that they did not like open plan rooms, NZ Council for Educational Research (NZCER) surveys showed the opposite. The council's 2019 survey of primary teachers found most of those who worked in modern learning environments enjoyed it and thought their teaching had improved, though most agreed some children find the rooms overwhelming. "Sixty-two percent of those who taught in an innovative learning environment enjoyed teaching in such an environment, and 55 percent thought their teaching had changed for the better," the survey report said. "Just over half thought they could cater for all students, and 45 percent thought that students were more engaged in the flexible learning environment than traditional classrooms, and 30 percent were neutral about this. But 78 percent of the teachers thought that some students find innovative learning environments overwhelming." The council's 2022 survey of secondary teachers found 49 percent enjoyed their innovative learning environment, 27 percent were neutral, and 24 percent did not enjoy it. Similar proportions agreed that their students enjoyed learning in the space and that it allowed them to teach in ways that benefited their students' learning. But they were less likely to agree that their space was well-designed for teaching and learning with 40 percent agreeing, 30 percent neutral and 30 percent disagreeing. Two-thirds percent agreed that some students found learning in an innovative learning environment overwhelming and 27 percent were neutral. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi bans 12 private schools from enrolling grades 11, 12 students amid inflation probe
In a move to uphold academic integrity, the UAE capital's education regulator has temporarily barred 12 private schools in the emirate from enrolling students in Grades 11 and 12. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge's (ADEK) decision, follows the launch of a wide-ranging review targeting grade inflation and inconsistencies in academic records. The crackdown — part of Phase One of ADEK's new compliance initiative — aims to ensure that high school grades are a genuine reflection of student performance and learning quality. According to ADEK, the review was triggered by red flags raised through internal quality assurance mechanisms, which detected discrepancies between students' internal school grades and their performance on external benchmark exams. 'These measures are essential to protect the integrity of student qualifications,' ADEK said. 'Grade inflation not only misrepresents student learning, it also undermines trust in the education system and limits fair academic competition.' As part of the initial phase, the 12 affected schools must now submit detailed academic records for all Grade 12 students. This includes transcripts, grading frameworks, assessment samples, and documentation of graduation requirements. The goal is to identify patterns of grade inflation, inconsistencies in awarding credits, and any mismatch between reported grades and actual student performance. ADEK emphasised that each student should earn their graduation credential through genuine academic achievement — not through inflated scores or unreliable internal assessments. What's next? The ongoing review will soon expand to cover Grades 9 through 11. Future phases will also compare internal grades with external test results and look at longer-term trends to detect potential systemic issues across schools. Schools found non-compliant may face further administrative action, including mandatory corrective measures, under ADEK's regulatory policy.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Firm action to address grade inflation and academic records inconsistencies
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – As part of its ongoing commitment to academic integrity, fairness, and transparency, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) launched Phase One of a comprehensive review targeting grade inflation and inconsistencies in academic records across a number of private schools in the emirate, to ensure they are an accurate reflection of their learning experience and quality. This initiative comes as part of ADEK's mandate as an education regulator to guarantee students are assessed fairly and consistently. It aims to ensure that each graduate earns their credential through genuine academic achievement, prevent unfair practices that result in unreliable outcomes or inflated school rankings, and help create equitable opportunities for all students across the emirate. Under Phase One, schools are required to submit Grade 12 academic records for immediate review. These include high school transcripts for all graduates, assessment policies and grading frameworks, graduation requirement documentation, samples of marked assessments, and a full record of all types of student assessments (diagnostic, formative, summative). So far, 12 schools have been temporarily barred from enrolling students in Grades 11 and 12 until compliance issues are resolved and corrective actions are in place. Grade inflation not only misrepresents student learning, undermines trust in the education system and limits fair academic competition. That's why this review aims to identify patterns of grade inflation, inconsistencies in awarding credits, and gaps between reported grades and actual performance and learning quality. Future phases will extend to include Grades 9 through 11 and involve a comprehensive analysis of internal grades versus external benchmark exams. ADEK will also conduct trend analyses to detect systemic issues at the school level. These efforts are part of a broader regulatory reform to ensure that academic achievements are credible, earned, and based on consistent and rigorous evaluation. This is essential to protect the integrity of student qualifications, which play a vital role in university admissions and future career readiness. This review was initiated after ADEK's quality assurance systems flagged discrepancies between internal grades and external benchmark exams. It ensures that awarded credits align with approved graduation pathways. Schools that do not meet the required standards may face administrative escalation or be subject to mandatory corrective measures under ADEK policy. At its core, this process is about reinforcing parents' confidence in the quality of education their children receive. ADEK remains committed to transparent, robust regulatory practices that uphold and protect that trust. -Ends- For more information, visit or follow ADEK on social media: Instagram: @adek_insta Twitter: ADEK_tweet Facebook: Department of Education and Knowledge YouTube: ADEK Abu Dhabi About Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is the Education Sector regulator across the Emirate. It oversees and provides services throughout a learner's journey from early education to university and beyond. It also champions inclusivity for People of Determination in the mainstream schooling system and by providing specialized schools. Across Early Childhood and K-12, ADEK licenses and regulates nurseries and private schools in Abu Dhabi while also legislating, mandating, and managing its own Charter Schools and 2 schools for People of Determination. ADEK also annually provides distinguished Abu Dhabi students with full scholarships and support to study at the best universities around the world. In addition, the Department audits and enhances the delivery of Higher Education in Abu Dhabi, attracting Higher Education Institutions to open the required Program or schools that serve Abu Dhabi's needs while championing a student and faculty-friendly ecosystem in the Emirate. With a vision to Empower Education. Empower Minds. Empower the Future, ADEK recognizes that every learner is different, and a diversity of teaching methods are essential for students to succeed. To that effect, ADEK partners with stakeholders to enable a great education system to flourish in Abu Dhabi and nurture future-ready graduates who have the 21st-century skills required to sustain and carry forward Abu Dhabi's vision.
