Industrialised educational programs, standardised testing and a lack of resources available to our schools has meant that students have long been treated as percentages to meet national averages, rather than individuals with different learning needs, aspirations and life goals.
Australia’s once high standards are slipping. Our global ranking for mathematics, reading and science are in decline and inequality between those who can afford better education and those who cannot is growing rapidly. A lack of support means students are facing increased anxiety and mental health due to being dragged down by the burden of academic expectation, and teachers facing ever-increasing workloads, are struggling to cope. Progressive educational systems in Finland, Norway and even schools in our own backyard are showing us a better way. The question is, do we have the guts to revolutionise our education system?
We are a capable of doing much better– and if we work together– we can achieve this.
