Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Australia - Coggle Diagram
Australia
Teacher Education
Teachers must complete a 4-year university program; secondary teachers focus on a specific subject.
Master’s degrees are available in education administration, curriculum, or general education.
Students do 6 weeks of supervised teaching in their final year.
Teachers continue learning through programs like the Quality Teacher Programme, which: Introduces new teaching methods, Shares research and professional development, Supports both primary and secondary teachers,
National Projects help teachers improve curriculum and instruction, offering: Workshops, distance learning, action research, and school leadership training
Specialist teachers (STs) work with at-risk students in literacy and numeracy, collaborating with classroom teachers.
Teacher education reflects Australia’s Western industrialized background and English colonial history.
New focus on “Asia literacy” aims to teach students about Asian histories, cultures, languages, and economies.
Teachers are central to the success of Asia literacy programs; each teacher contributes their knowledge about different Asian countries.
Implementing Asia literacy is challenging due to geographic, cultural, and political diversity in Asia.
Background
In 1770, Captain James Cook claimed Australia for Britain.
After America became independent, Britain sent prisoners to Australia.
Later, free settlers and gold seekers came and started new towns.
People wanted schools to teach children reading, writing, and good behavior.
The churches first ran most schools and taught religion.
In 1848, the government started public schools.
By 1872, education became free, for everyone, and not religious.
More schools and colleges were built as Australia grew richer.
In 1901, all the colonies joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia, with education already important for all.
Lessons from Australia
Australia has a strong private school system supported by the government, which competes with public schools.
This support may increase social class differences.
Local schools and teachers are trusted to manage innovation and assessments.
Programs like GIR show confidence in teachers’ expertise.
Educational innovation is encouraged through cooperation and collaboration, not competition.
The Quality Teacher Programme supports schools without creating a race for funding.
Australian Education System
Education is important for a strong society; school is compulsory ages 5–15.
Government schools include primary (K–6) and secondary (7–12).
Private schools include K–12 and church-sponsored schools.
Government funds some private schools, but some people disagree with this.
Australian Education System
Primary Education
Primary school: pre-year 1 to year 6 (year 7 in South Australia).
State governments manage primary education.
Boards of Education now give general guidelines; schools and teachers decide the curriculum and materials.
Teachers create curriculum and student assessments; external testing is minimal.
Subjects include English, reading, writing, math, science, social studies, history, geography, and civics.
Other subjects: health, commerce, computers, visual arts.
Foreign languages offered: Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, French, German.
Aboriginal languages are taught in Aboriginal schools in Western Australia, Northern Queensland, and Northern Territory
Secondary Education
Secondary education is offered in government (public) and private schools (colleges).
Both receive state and federal funding, but private schools often get more funds.
Private schools are seen as offering better teaching, superior curricula, and safer environments.
Social changes, diversity, and safety concerns drive some families to private schools.
Curriculum is mostly similar in government and private schools: English, math, science, history, geography, economics, health, computers, technology, visual arts.
Students planning to go to university must pass public matriculation exams.
Global Educational Reform Movement (GERM) influences schools, emphasizing competition and school choice.
Studies show competition improves some economy aspects, but does not necessarily improve school learning outcomes.