Education Minister Jason Clare is facing a united front of state ministers demanding more public school funding.
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‘Shortchanging kids’:States demand extra $12b in united front over schools

States are accusing the federal government of shortchanging students as they seek a 5 per cent increase in school funding from the Commonwealth.

  • byAngus Thompson andNatassia Chrysanthos

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University vice-chancellor salaries will be up for debate at the latest education ministers’ meeting.
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Inside the plan that could rein in vice chancellor salaries and overhaul uni boards

A new taskforce to police how universities are run will be pitched to state education ministers,as figures reveal the extent of corporatisation of university councils.

  • bySherryn Groch
Brothers Jude and Nate Roberts enjoying a healthy breakfast at their home.

Private school students were asked what they’d eaten for breakfast. Later that day,they were scored

A study quizzed students about the nutritional quality of their breakfast and then made them sit a test later in the day.

  • byChristopher Harris
The pro-Palestinian encampment started by students on the university quad.

‘Our university is scared’:Sydney Uni students join wave of US college encampments

Colleges across the United States have been rocked by mass protests at institutions which began at Columbia University on April 17 and quickly spread to other institutions.

  • byDaniella White
O’Farrell believes politicians have unique skills that they can contribute to diplomacy.
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Student visa crackdown risks bilateral relations,says former top diplomat

The Albanese government’s fix for migration has come under fire from the opposition and former high commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell.

  • byAngus Thompson
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the budget will have to focus on both economic growth and bringing down inflation.

Chalmers prepares for weak economy to hit budget bottom line

Jim Chalmers is on track to deliver successive budget surpluses,but a slowing economy may force the nation’s finances back into the red.

  • byShane Wright
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Some universities,including at least one prestigious Group of Eight institution,have taken the drastic step of banning or limiting applications from countries deemed at high risk of visa refusal.
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Unis ban Indian student applications as visa rejections hit record high

Some universities,including at least one prestigious Group of Eight institution,have taken the drastic step of banning or limiting applications from countries deemed at high risk of visa refusal.

  • byDaniella White
A record 18,544 students will sit for the selective school test in May,competing for about 4200 places.

Record 18,500 students sit selective school test on paper for last time

Selective school and opportunity class testing will move online for the first time in 2025.

  • byLucy Carroll
Teaching academics have criticised any push to mandate the use of one teaching strategy.

Schools have been ordered to use this teaching method. Will staff comply?

After decades of the reading wars,another ideological culture battle is set to ignite when teachers return from their school holidays.

  • byChristopher Harris
Year 4 student Alice Ou will sit for the opportunity class placement test in August.
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Fewer girls enrolled in opportunity classes as test comes under review

The gender gap in NSW’s public school opportunity classes is growing,with the proportion of girls in the classes falling to 39.5 per cent.

  • byLucy Carroll
Jamal Daoud was taken aback to find his child was attending a prayer group in a secular school without his consent.
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Parent’s anger over child joining school prayer group without consent

A Muslim community leader has questioned whether NSW public high schools are doing enough to guard against extremism among students.

  • byCarrie Fellner andLucy Carroll
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged potential changes around HECs.

‘Simpler and fairer’:Albanese flags HECS changes in budget relief

The prime minister says he will announce soon a response to a recommended overhaul of HECS as calls come from the crossbench to look at wiping student debt.

  • byAngus Thompson
Bella Westaway
Opinion

I made mistakes at university,just not enough of them

The mistakes you make during uni will shape your life,in big and small ways. So don’t overthink it – just enjoy the ride.

  • byBella Westaway
Visa rules are to be eased for “genuine” foreign students.
Exclusive

Whistleblower professor accused of ‘serious misconduct’ sues Sydney Uni

A leading brain researcher is suing the University of Sydney after he was fired for “serious misconduct”. He says it was in retaliation for whistleblowing.

  • byDaniella White
Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page with Auburn Girls High School students (l-r) Hasini Poddaturu,Adeena Khan and Sarah Chaudhary.

Part-time work during HSC should boost university options

One vice chancellor says ATARs should not be the only factor for university entry,as Harvey Norman’s chief executive says her company will donate millions of dollars to help disadvantaged girls reach higher education.

  • byChristopher Harris
NSW Education Minister Prue Car said school budget cuts were being made to “a small amount of discretionary funding.”
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NSW cut public school budgets. Now it’s asking for an extra $8 billion

The NSW government and Commonwealth are at loggerheads over funding contributions to the state’s public schools.

  • byLucy Carroll
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Opinion

Public schools have an image problem,even without funding cuts

Enrolments at public schools have been dropping and this is cited as a key reason behind a slashing of schools’ budgets,revealed to principals in an all-staff note earlier this week.

  • byAlexandra Smith
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar.
Editorial

Minns must explain how cutting school budgets is in Labor’s DNA

Reports that NSW public schools will have their budgets slashed by up to $148 million at first glance risks making a mockery of Premier Chris Minns’ election pledge to improve public education.

  • The Herald's View
NSW Education Minister Prue Car at Parramatta East Public School this week.

School budgets slashed by $148 million as deputies forced back to classroom

Thousands of deputy and assistant principals will be forced back into teaching roles to help deal with chronic staffing shortages in NSW public schools.

  • byLucy Carroll
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said that nobody was in the hall at the time.

This school hall burnt down. Then the parents had to pay

Principals are grappling with smaller budgets,with parents asked to pay for basics such as textbooks.

  • byChristopher Harris
Phillipa Maher,Melinda Gambley and IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews.

‘They can’t afford the rent’:Meet the teachers demanding a 25 per cent pay rise

Some are paid $35,000 less than their peers in other schools and interstate.

  • byChristopher Harris
On a per-student basis,school funding can vary widely across schools.

The parenting decision that has left Vaucluse Public with more funding than schools in Penrith

Numerous schools in Sydney’s east are bringing in more taxpayer cash per student than some of Sydney’s most disadvantaged pockets,a Sun-Herald analysis can reveal.

  • byChristopher Harris
The architect of Australia’s student visa scheme says he did not design it to be used for a migration crackdown.
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‘Frankenstein’s bride’:Student visa architect takes aim at Labor’s uni clampdown

The man who helped create the university risk ratings in 2016 said they were meant to help streamline student visa applications,not be used for a migration crackdown.

  • byAngus Thompson
“Students who have arts-rich experiences are much more likely to be more confident about who they are,” says Professor Ewing.
Sponsored

Creative kids are confident kids. Experts explain why

Empowering young people to explore their creativity uplifts their confidence and wellbeing too.

  • byMichelle Bateman
University essay cheating.

Exposed:How simple it is for cheats to buy a university essay

Despite authorities closing hundreds of essay cheating websites,the purchasing of assignments continues apace.

  • byDaniella White
Cyclists pass students and parents approaching the entrance to Fort Street Public School in Millers Point.
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‘It shouldn’t take a kid to be killed’:Warning over bridge cycleway choke point

The southern Harbour Bridge bike ramp,promised in 2016,is still unbuilt,and parents at Fort Street public are in despair.

  • byNigel Gladstone
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Tim Chan says non-speaking autistic people have a lot to tell the world.

The steps being taken to get better treatment for Australia’s autistic people

Australia has its first assistant minister for autism and is crafting its first national autism strategy. How the rest of society steps up will be crucial.

  • byNatassia Chrysanthos
Alex,Diya and Pepsi.

This university newspaper is ‘censored’ by a marketing team. Now,students are fighting back

UNSW’s student publication has barely published in months and a staff for 2024 has not been appointed.

  • byDaniella White
Year 12 Santa Sabina College students Lucia Juarez,left,Lucy Gee,centre,and Rochelle Dias are part of a group running their own op shop.

Fighting the ‘allure’ of fast fashion,teenagers start own op shop

The average Australian sends 10 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year. These classmates are hoping to reverse that.

  • byMary Ward
Newington old boys protest outside the college over its move to go co-ed.
Opinion

‘Retro,wealthy and weird’:The old boys who are afraid of young girls

The Newington College old guard is resisting co-education,but you have to wonder when adults’ identity is so tied to their six years as teenagers.

  • byJacqueline Maley
A Productivity Commission draft report recommends scrapping tax deductions for private school building funds.

The waiting list war:The battle to become a private school parent

Some schools have seen the length of their waiting lists double as more parents opt for private education for their children. Here’s how the schools choose who gets in.

  • byChristopher Harris
Contract cheating is a booming business,luring an estimated 8 per cent of students at Australian universities.
Exclusive

These students cheated on a test and got away with it. Then the blackmail started

Australian students are being blackmailed by illegal cheating syndicates largely run by organised crime. Experts warn it is a risk to national security as blackmailers return,threatening to out students for past cheating.

  • bySherryn Groch
The Sydney Church of England Grammar School’s main campus in North Sydney.

Restaurant ‘devastated’ after Shore student’s allergy death

The year 11 boy from the Sydney Church of England Grammar School died on Wednesday night after suffering an apparent allergic reaction to food.

  • byBen Cubby andAngus Dalton
About 1000 former Newington College students met on Wednesday night at a special general meeting.

‘We expected a brawl’:Newington old boys’ council overthrown,as co-ed opposition grows

Former Newington College students have passed votes of no confidence in its old boys union,school council and headmaster at a major alumni meeting.

  • byLucy Carroll
John Ralston Wenona School

Chair of independent schools peak body quits ‘effective immediately’

John Ralston tendered his resignation after reports the NSW Association of Independent Schools allowed a child sex offender to remain on its board after it was advised of his past crimes.

  • byLucy Carroll
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Failure to fly:NSW governor narrowly avoids a Bronwyn Bishop moment

Governor Margaret Beazley was set to charter a police helicopter to travel from the CBD to Bankstown,before commonsense prevailed.

  • byKishor Napier-Raman andNoel Towell
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Simon Wood studied a postgraduate law degree at RMIT and is now studying a graduate diploma,all while working fulltime.

‘The hardest years of my life’:How Simon survived the relentless work-study struggle

Studying while holding down a full-time job isn’t as impossible as it sounds. Three students share the secret to success.

  • bySian Powell
Lieutenant Colonel Kylie Hasse.

‘It’s not always easy’:Why this Army nurse can’t stop studying

Army officer,nurse,mum and master’s student. Kylie Hasse says she’s been studying since she left school - and she’s not done yet.

How to get your boss to pay for your next degree.

How to get your boss to pay for your next degree

Be smart and strategic in how you ask your employer to contribute to the cost of your studies - or even pay for them outright.

  • byMelinda Ham
Professions such as architecture,psychology,medicine and physiotherapy require a postgraduate degree to practice.

The six questions you need to ask before taking on postgrad study

From a master’s degree to an MBA or PhD,there are plenty of options. Here’s how to decide which is the right one for you.

  • byMelinda Ham
Master’s degrees in clinical psychology were again the top choices for postgraduate students in NSW and the ACT.

The most popular postgraduate courses in Australia revealed

Legal degrees were the top choice two years ago,but students are now flocking to a different field entirely.

  • bySian Powell
The Australian Research Council’s funding model was rehauled last week.
Analysis

A Christmas scandal sent scientists to war. Last week,they won

New legislation passed last week marks the end of a saga kicked off by the axing of six research projects by the Morrison government.

  • byAngus Dalton
Bree Turner with her children Kirilly,7,Brooklyn,4,and April,2.

The catch-22 preventing mothers from returning to work

The federal government is being urged to scrap income reporting requirements for access to childcare subsidies to help get more families more work.

  • byRachel Clun
Principal,teachers and students from Chifley College.

‘If they hate me,that’s fine’:How to run a classroom at this Sydney school

The teachers at Chifley College in Shalvey are embracing a new way of learning.

  • byChristopher Harris
More students are being awarded high distinctions and distinction grades at some NSW universities when compared with a decade ago.
Exclusive

‘Distinction the new credit’:Grade inflation puts uni integrity at risk

An investigation into grade inflation by Sydney University found a 234 per cent increase in the number of high distinctions awarded over a decade.

  • byDaniella White andLucy Carroll
Bradley,left,says he watched his twin brother James “go through hell” after coming out as gay in high school.
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Bradley’s school years were the best of his life. For his twin,James,they were ‘hell’

James Elliot-Watson was an obvious candidate for school prefect – his teachers all told him so. Then,one lunchtime,he told a member of staff he was struggling with his sexuality.

  • byNatassia Chrysanthos
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Contract cheaters infiltrating student portals.
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Illegal contract cheaters target students via university issued email addresses

Cheating providers infiltrate Australian universities by offering discounts to students who give them access to their IDs and logins.

  • byDaniella White
Sania,left,and Seema are two of the thousands of students with a refugee background who attend NSW public schools.

In their home country,Seema and Sania could not go to high school

There are about 12,000 students from refugee backgrounds enrolled in NSW’s public schools,with about 1800 starting as new students each year.

  • byMary Ward
handwriting explainer
Explainer

‘Crucial for memory’:Why facts stick when you write them down

It might not be a window to your soul but it’s better for your brain. Why writing – once an ancient “handicraft” – is still worth doing well.

  • byAngus Holland
More students are claiming HSC disability support.
Exclusive

Schools in wealthy areas claim more HSC exam help as provisions double in a decade

More than 44 per cent of students at high-fee private schools,including Redlands and The McDonald College,claimed HSC disability provisions last year.

  • byLucy Carroll andNigel Gladstone