Seems Australia's new government has pulled a bait and switch, promising citizens Down Under significant education reform and then forgetting about most of it. So says Kevin Donnelly, esteemed commenter on all things edustralian, in a recent article wherein he notes that new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has not acted upon campaign commitments to establish a national curriculum, nor is he headed toward the creation of effective standards for measuring student progress and holding schools accountable. "No wonder," Donnelly writes, "more than 30 percent of students go to non-government schools." He recommends freeing state schools from bureaucratic messes, implementing a system of vouchers, and refashioning the nation's teacher-training programs. Good suggestions, all.
"Rudd's cycle of promises is more spin than revolution," by Kevin Donnelly, The Australian, April 19, 2008