Equity in Education: The Need for Serious Reform in Australia

Equity in education is a pressing issue in Australia, with recent reports revealing significant disparities in educational outcomes for disadvantaged students.

The OECD’s Education Policy Outlook, released in April 2023, highlights that students from low-income families, rural areas, and Indigenous backgrounds are three times more likely to fall behind in school compared to their peers. This has sparked calls for urgent reform to address these systemic inequities.

The report emphasises that while Australia performs well by international standards, there is considerable room for improvement in ensuring fair and equitable access to quality education.

Minister for Education Jason Clare noted, “If you’re a child today from a poor family, or from the bush, or you’re an Indigenous child, then you’re three times more likely to fall behind at school. We must turn this around” (Ministers’ Media Centre, 2023).

The upcoming National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) is a critical step in addressing these inequities. Scheduled for review, the NSRA aims to tie future funding to meaningful reforms that focus on closing the education gap. This follows the Productivity Commission’s final report, which criticised the current agreement for lacking clear targets and practical reforms (Productivity Commission, 2023).

Educational experts argue that more targeted support is needed for disadvantaged schools, such as additional funding, smaller class sizes, and more experienced teachers. Recent initiatives like the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan also aim to address these inequities by ensuring a steady supply of well-prepared teachers in underserved areas.

The theory sounds promising, but like most systemic changes, it can take years to see a payoff. In the meantime, small and thoughtful changes can be made in individual classrooms across Australia to address the need for equity.

So, how can you bring a sense of equity to your classroom or school community?

References:

Ministers’ Media Centre. (2023). OECD education report underlines need for serious reform. ministers.education.gov.au

Productivity Commission. (2023). National School Reform Agreement Review. pc.gov.au