Shortcomings In Australia's Education Sector: Challenges And Recommendations

Essence of the story

Notably, education is regarded as a universal right in most developed countries. Despite this not all students have access to education without various challenges. This article focuses on the various shortcomings in the Australian Education sector. Primarily, unattractiveness of the teaching profession has led to shortage of teachers. Further, inequity in both private and public sector is experienced in some Australian States (Masters, 2015) Also, Curriculum standards have an effect on the education quality of students. Moreover, growth based education flexibility. Particularly, Mathematics, science and reading are the poorly performed subjects by Australia students.

Further, failure to address student needs leads to poor student performance by teachers .The author of this article is the chief executive of the Australian council for education research hence his interest in education matters (Masters, 2015). Challenges facing the education sector in Australia are the area solely focused on by the article. Also, the teacher magazine proposes various recommendations for the shortcomings. Notably, Australia s top 10% students’ performance in year eight is similar to top fifty per cent of performance of students in Korea and Singapore.Notably,Singapore,South Korea are some of the best education performers worldwide.

Predominantly, Singapore and Hong Kong are among the highest education performing countries (Hunjan and Blumer, 2016) Particularly, teacher training program is offered to top 30% of aspiring teachers which has further contributed to its exemplary education performance. Notably ,Quality of education brings forth successful student performance thus the need for qualified teachers.However,the Australian teaching sector has been considered unattractive for aspiring teachers thus creating a shortage of qualified teachers for the students(Masters,2015)Contrary, Australian teaching courses are available for 70 per cent of its top students performers.

Notably, inequity in the distribution of resources in schools has yielded poor performance. Majorly, this is done through discrimination of students due to social and economic background. Further, inequity is evidenced in unequal education resources such as equipment and facilities in  schools thereby creating a competitive disadvantage for students with privileged facilities and those that lack it.Noteworthy, there’s a huge variance in Australian Schools.Oftenly, and private schools are better funded as compared to public schools. Further, Urban schools are likely to have better education infrastructure and equipment unlike rural schools thus fuelling their better student performance.

Inevitably, the world is changing hence the need to update the educational curriculum for students. Students are the future labor force thus the need to update and synchronize their courses to make them acquire the requisite skills for the jobs they will later apply for (Masters, 2015) Notably, globalization, technological, information and environmental concerns are ever changing thus the need to accommodate the changes in the teaching and education curriculum to equip the future labor force with sufficient skills to deal with those challenges. Particularly, nationalization of the education curriculum for teacher training and students will boost education.

Generally, consumer satisfaction is a fundamental economic concept equally not so far-fetched for students in schools. Simply put, students thirst for knowledge makes them the consumers. However, most teaching approaches haven’t been able to meet individual student needs due to the fact that students are booked for courses based on their year levels characterized by different abilities. Highly trained teachers are readily equipped with assessment skills that help them identify and deal with individual students according to their abilities and challenges especially in cases of slow learners and students with physical or mental disabilities.

Economic Analysis

Further ,different students have different abilities and shortcomings such as slow reading abilities, Physical challenges and sometimes cultural and economic background .Inability of teachers to specialize on individual student needs has also contributed to the poor education performance in some schools.Notably,a 4year old privileged student scored 548 points whereas underprivileged same 4year old scored 474 (Thomson,2016)Noteworthy, average math score of a n indigenous student was at 62% as compared to 29% of  year 4 student .Also, student performance gap of indigenous students and foreign students has declined for decades.

Profoundly, Education challenges have an impact on the school performance of students. Majorly, accessibility to education opportunities must be fair, available and affordable to enable students to have a competitive advantage with other global students .Inequity in terms of resource allocation and distribution has created great performance gap between advantaged and disadvantaged schools .Further, teaching techniques must be conformed to individual student needs for best results however some teachers are ill equipped to handle challenging students due to unqualified training or outdated training thus the need to raise teaching standards and practices for better student performance.

Even though, a school might have enough teachers that is not a guarantee for good student performance. Primarily, good quality produces good handiwork. Similarly, highly qualified teachers have a likelihood of producing exemplary student performance. Qualified teachers are adequately equipped to handle the student abilities and challenges to the fullest as contrasted with unqualified teachers who are likely to find some situations more demanding and challenging Also, the teaching practices and courses of teachers ought to be raised to be able to produce able and highly motivated teachers who are able to handle learning challenges.

Further, a current education curriculum for both teachers and student courses has high chances of boosting education performance in Australian schools. Undeniably, an updated curriculum will prepare students and teachers to be able to adapt and deal with the existing and future advancements for better student and teacher performance and eventually the labor market. Outdated education curriculum makes students and teachers ill-equipped to deal with the day to day challenges. The likely consequences of outdated curriculum include work redundancies, layoffs, poor performance by students and teachers, lower productivity and efficiency.

Regardless of social economic background, every Australian student is entitled to quality education and facilities. Any form of discrimination, in enrollment of students or allocation and distribution of resources must be eliminated to provide equal learning opportunities to all students. Undeniably ,social economic status of students differ however the same should be mitigated in schools through allocation of resources in both advantaged and disadvantaged schools with equal measure thus the need for government and private sector intervention. Discrimination of students based on their origin, indigenous or otherwise is a common occurrence in some schools hence variance in performance between two student groups.

Notably, inclusive and fair policy implementation helps eradicate inequities in schools systems. Limited use of differentiation, vertically or horizontal will help achieve equity in the education system (OECD, 2013) Further, availability of government funding and subsidies will help curb financial disparities among schools and enable disadvantaged students to access quality education from fully furnished facilities and qualified teachers. In addition, early enrollment by students helps promote equity that’s because students are able to compete with other students at their own level hence furthering a competitive attitude and performance among the students.

Views

Moreover, equitable allocation of opportunities, resources will alleviate competitive levels for all students (Argy, 2007) Education goals based on ability, effort and motivation is likely to produce successful students. Equal opportunities should be availed to all students regardless of origin and social economic conditions. Notably, private schools are likely to be properly funded as compared to government schools thus the need for government to ensure proper funding of public schools (Connor and McMorrow, 2012).Further, adequate funding promotes equity, quality education and safety of students thus exemplary academic performance.

Further, use of current labor perspectives in the teaching curriculum will help prepare students for the future labor market.Worplace efficiency, productivity levels, competitiveness are developed by the education system received by the taskforce. Also, Nationalization of the education curriculum by the government of Australia is a commendable move towards quality education (International education news, 2014) Nationalization of the curriculum provides uniformity and promotes equity among students in Australia.Also,a nationalized curriculum provides equal competitiveness footing.

Primarily, raising the academic qualification of teachers will go a long way to improving student performance(Jensen,2015)Highly trained teachers are better equipped with assessment skills to identify and deliver student needs hence the need to raise higher standards for the teaching profession and also offer quality courses for teachers. Notably updated curriculum should be used that is evidenced based in both training and learning courses. Also, more opportunities for clinical practice for teachers will help teacher performance in schools.

Conclusion

Predominantly, knowledge is the basis of most employment opportunities hence the importance being placed by most developed countries.Majorly,Quality education is likely to provide  skilled labor market for the future.However,Quality education is packaged with quality facilities, equal opportunities for all students regardless of their origin, social –economic background or any other form of discrimination.Further,easy access and affordability of education facilities inclusive of qualified and adequate staff increases future chances of  employability and successful lives of Australian Students.

Significantly enough financial resources have the potential to turn education performance around .For instance, proper facilities combined with qualified staff is likely to produce successful performance. However, inequitable practices can effectively be eliminated by the government through policies and oversight taskforce .Further, raising the academic qualification for teachers undergoing training will help produce qualified teachers who are able to handle student challenges and abilities effectively. In addition, teachers need to be highly motivated for better student performance.

References.

Argy, F. (2007) Education Inequalities in Australia. The University Of Western Australia. [Online]Available at

https://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/new-critic/five/educationinequalities[Accessed 25 Apr.2017]

Connors, L and McMorrow, J. ( 2012)Australian  Education Review: Imperatives in Schools funding:Equity,sustainability and achievement. Australian Council for Educational Research. [Online]Available at

https://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1024&context=aer[Accessed 25 Apr 2017]

Hunjan, R and Blumer, C. (2016) Australian Schools are in’ absolute decline’, globally, Says PISA Report .ABC News. [Online]Available at

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/australian-school-performance-in-absolute-decline-globally/8098028[Accessed 25 Apr.2017]

International Education News. (2014.) Curriculum Reform in Australia. International Education News. [Online]Available at

https://internationalednews.com/2014/12/04/curriculum-reform-in-australia/[Accessed 25 Apr 2017]

Jensen, B. (2015) The six steps to better teachers for Australia s school system. The Australian. [Online]Available at

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/the-six-steps-to-better-teachers-for-australias-school-system/newsstory/96f2cc136450b7ca6344ddd4eaef11b7[Accessed 25 Apr 2017]

Masters, G. (2015)’Big Five’ Challenges in School Education. Teacher Magazine. [Online]Available at

https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/geoff-masters/article/big-five-challenges-in-school-education[Accessed 25 Apr 2017]

Thomson, S. (2016) Australian Schools continue to fall behind in Maths and Science. The Conversation. [Online]Available at

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-30/timss-australian-schools-continue-to-fall-behind/8078060[Accessed 25 Apr 2017]

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2013) Education Policy Outlook. OECD. [Online]Available at https://www.oecd.org/education/EDUCATION%20POLICY%20OUTLOOK%20AUSTRALIA_EN.pdf[Accessed 25 Apr.2017]