The Program for International Students Assessment ( PISA ) report released in Paris makes dismal reading for the Australian education system. It seems that Australia dropped another half year behind the common average between 2003-2012.
Four out of ten of our kids flunked baseline mathematics and one in three flunked reading and science. In particular, Asian kids are simply running rings around our kids when it comes to comparing educational levels.
This adds to the alarm bells that have been ringing here for years. The Gonski report had a long, hard look at our school system and this resulted in an upgrade implementation plan that will cost billions. Spending that money will be a waste unless we change the attitude we apply to education - and that means a rethink for the kids, their parents - and the teaching profession.
Australian schooling seems to be a very casual affair. The hours are certainly not long and there is ample time out of the classroom playing sport - or in many cases - scheduled for sport that does not happen. At least one half day a week becomes " free time " without purpose.
New arrivals in this country are much more dedicated in trying to get their children educated than most Australian parents. Too many parents expect that the end of the education years will result in their child " getting a job " rather than " having a career ". The work field is narrowing and entry to many professions is now impossible without at least basic tertiary qualifications. Kids that do not think and plan ahead are destined to spend their working lives at the bottom of the earnings totem pole.
The teaching profession has not made a major change in decades. For many, it is simply " a job " - with little incentive to strive for excellence. A better than average teacher who can motivate students gets exactly the same pay as a drone who simply " puts in the time ". The main criteria for promotion - is still length of service. Seniority counts more than ability - and this shows when pupil comparisons come into play.
If we are to be " the clever country " we will need to lift our game and raise educational standards to at least match those of our neighbours. The danger is that all this new money being thrown at education will be syphoned off by impractical " social standards " enthusiasts who seek objectives that have little to do with actual teaching results.
What we really need is parents to take a real interest in the education of their children and encourage them to obtain results, and a revamp of the teaching profession to reward those that achieve and cull out the misfits. That will not be comfortable for many - and it will probably offend many political sensibilities, but it is a requirement for achieving a world standard in education.
If the right choices are made in implementing Gonski - education could become the " Gold standard " !
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