The reading literacy of Australian 15-year-old students has fallen sharply over the past decade, results from the 2009 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reveal. The Australian national report shows Australia’s results have also slipped in mathematics but held ground in science. PISA measures how well 15-year-olds from across the globe are prepared to use...

School attendance and retention of Indigenous Australian students examines the different approaches that have been used to improve attendance and/or retention, including programs that directly or indirectly address the issues. This report is a useful resource for policymakers, researchers and others interested in what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. Image: Rusty Stewart / flickr

This new analysis of a selection of mathematics items from the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2007) illustrates areas of strength and, particularly weaknesses, for Australian students. TIMSS is a cycle of internationally comparative assessments, conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) every four years. The...