MEDIA RELEASE: UNLOCKING AUSTRALIA’S SCHOOL POTENTIAL:

Australia’s schools are among the world’s most segregated, harming our young people but a new report by the Australian Learning Lecture shows that solutions to create an equal school system here are possible.

The report Lessons from Canada shows that with the right structures, regulations and funding in place, Australia can build an equal school system.

The report is the result of a study tour of Australian educators and researchers to a single comparable country to learn more about possible approaches that have significant potential to enhance educational delivery in Australia. The Australian Learning Lecture and Leading Educators Around the Planet commissioned the tour and report.

It urges Australians to look at seemingly intractable problems in new ways, and to challenges basic assumptions about how our education system should operate.

It also calls on the Australian government to put in place immediately measures to report diversity and to commission a new review into the right combination of interventions required to increase socio-economic diversity in Australia.

The report has been co-authored by Tom Greenwell and Chris Bonnor who wrote Waiting for Gonski and Choice and Fairness: a proposal for a common framework for all Australian schools.

Main findings
Ontario illustrates the achievability and attractiveness of a common framework of resourcing and regulation which applies to all schools. The Ontario model promotes inclusion, equity and socio-economic diversity and enhances student achievement. It’s also affordable. The common framework in Ontario includes both faith-based and government schools.

In contrast, Quebec has similar policy settings to Australia and the same problems, but an enterprising group of parents have created a powerful movement for change. Their goal is the implementation of a Plan for a Common School Network.

British Columbia regulates fees in some non-government schools, but others still enjoy significant resource advantages and can actively or passively exclude disadvantaged students. 

 The reality is that Canada has been much more successful in creating schools that truly embody the values both Australia and Canada share; schools that are anchored in their local communities where all students are able to achieve their full potential.

 Attributable quotes:

“Lessons from Canada offers a glimmer of hope for Australia, if we have the courage to embrace it” Ellen Koshland, founder of the Australian Learning Lecture.

“The arrangements in Ontario may seem surprising to Australians, unthinkable even, but Lessons from Canada shows it is possible to have faith-based schools that are free for every child, and public schools that serve faith communities – with both groups of schools equally diverse, inclusive and supported,” Tom Greenwell, co-author.

“Canada shows us that a common framework of resourcing and regulation for all schools is both achievable and urgently important”, Chris Bonnor, co-author.

The report can be found here: