Schools, universities, education policy, and student issues
New data reveals a critical crisis in Australia's vocational education: nearly two-thirds of TAFE teachers have considered leaving their jobs while apprenticeship commencements plummet, despite persistent skills shortages in the trades.
Grace Okonkwo Easter holidays strain family budgets as childcare and holiday activities cost more than ever. Here's how to plan without breaking the bank.
Marcus Ashbrook Latest NAPLAN results expose a troubling and stubborn achievement gap: disadvantaged students are performing years behind their wealthy peers, and current policy isn't closing it.
Grace Okonkwo Australian universities are home to a mental health crisis few will acknowledge. When 85% of first-year students screen positive for anxiety and depression, but counsellors face wait lists months long, something is profoundly broken.
Kate Morrison New research reveals that despite being publicly funded, Australian schools impose mounting costs that push families into debt. For the most vulnerable, the real cost of education is unaffordable.
Grace Okonkwo A University of Newcastle study spanning ten years shows Australian high school students today are far more uncertain about their futures than their peers a decade ago, driven by pandemic aftereffects, cost-of-living pressures, and global instability.
Grace Okonkwo The Albanese Government has expanded free TAFE places to over 500,000 enrolments in 18 months. But a new report shows two-thirds of TAFE teachers have considered quitting, raising questions about whether the expansion can survive.
Daniel Kovac Australia's national student assessment system collapsed on its opening day, leaving 1.3 million students unable to sit their tests. The failure raises uncomfortable questions about government digital infrastructure and institutional preparedness.
Daniel Kovac Australia's government has committed $23 million to improve financial literacy education, yet a fragmented curriculum and inconsistent school uptake leave teenagers unprepared for the real financial challenges ahead.
Victoria Crawford Victorian public school teachers will stop work on 24 March in their first statewide strike in 13 years, rejecting a 17 per cent offer and demanding a 35 per cent pay increase to close a widening gap with better-paid colleagues in NSW and Queensland.
Grace Okonkwo Australia's apprenticeship system is fracturing under pressure. Nearly 45% of apprentices never finish their training, completion rates have slipped, and commencements have fallen 30% in just two years.
Jake Nguyen Australia's government wiped $16 billion in student debt while its universities sank deeper into crisis. With 26 of 39 universities in deficit and funding at historic lows, the two policies reveal a fundamental mismatch in higher education strategy.
Grace Okonkwo 
Victoria's school principals have joined teachers in rejecting the government's pay offer, backing a statewide strike that marks the first major industrial action in 13 years.
Daniel Kovac Every Victorian primary school will have a dedicated mental health and wellbeing leader by the end of 2026. The $200 million investment reflects a growing commitment to addressing youth mental health through schools rather than waiting for crises.
Grace Okonkwo School leaver applications to TAFE surged 17% in 2026 as the cost-of-living crisis forces young Australians to reconsider university. The shift reveals the hidden toll of housing stress and financial pressure on student wellbeing.
Grace Okonkwo 
Nearly 6,000 students wrongly flagged for cheating at ACU, detection tools unreliable, yet universities continue using them. Why institutional panic over AI threatens the integrity it claims to protect.
Jake Nguyen Nearly half of Australian teachers are considering leaving the profession within 12 months. The crisis isn't recruitment—it's burnout. Data shows workload, not wages, is driving the exodus.
Grace Okonkwo 
A 10-month-old child's finger was severed at the Free Range Kids Laidley 2 centre west of Brisbane on 24 February. The Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority is investigating the incident.
James Callahan High school completion rates are rising for the first time in years, with STEM degree starts jumping 8-9%. What's driving this turnaround in Australian education?
Grace Okonkwo As school fees in Australia reach $55,000 per year at premium institutions, 71% of families are making sacrifices to afford education. Yet research shows the market isn't delivering better outcomes—just higher costs.
Daniel Kovac