Improvements in reading literacy outcomes, but no room for complacency

Australian Year 4 students have shown marked improvement in reading literacy outcomes, according to a new international comparative study. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) showed Australian students improved their ranking from 27th (out of 45 countries) in 2011 to 21st (out of 50 countries)…

New P-TECH pilot site for Darwin

Joint media release with Interim Parliamentary Leader of the Nationals Nigel Scullion  Students in Darwin will gain valuable real-world skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thanks to the Turnbull Government’s new Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) pilot program. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said Casuarina Senior College in Darwin would be the…

2018 New Colombo Plan Scholars

Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, have announced 120 New Colombo Plan scholarships to talented undergraduates to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region in 2018. These New Colombo Plan scholars will study in 20 host locations, including for the…

Young Historian of the Year 2017

A Year 12 student from Canberra has been selected from more than 8000 entrants across the country as Australia’s Young Historian of the Year. Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham presented the award to Hawker College student Ineka Voigt in a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra today. Minister Birmingham said Ineka’s essay about…

Australia’s collaborative problem solving students among world leaders

Australian students are among the world’s best collaborative problem-solvers, according to a new international report.   Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the OECD’s inaugural report on collaborative problem solving showed nearly twice the number of Australian students were highly skilled in problem solving compared to the OECD average.   The report ranked…