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Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

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Full-Text Articles in Disability and Equity in Education

Children’S University In Australia And New Zealand: Reach And Impact, Katherine Dix, Shani Sniedze, Tamara Van Der Zant Jun 2024

Children’S University In Australia And New Zealand: Reach And Impact, Katherine Dix, Shani Sniedze, Tamara Van Der Zant

Higher education research

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the reach and impact of Children’s University in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Council for Educational Research compiled available evidence to consolidate the evidence of the Children's University outreach program's extent and influence across the Australasian partnership. The independent evaluation synthesises information from existing research, reports, operational data, social media, and other documentation to provide a current snapshot of the Children's University's reach and impact, guided by the following research questions. How is the program underpinned by evidence-based best practice? What is the reach of the program in Australia? What does the …


The Scottish Government International Development Fund: Designing A New International Development Inclusive Education Programme, Alexander Towne, Desmond Bermingham Jan 2024

The Scottish Government International Development Fund: Designing A New International Development Inclusive Education Programme, Alexander Towne, Desmond Bermingham

International Education Research

This document was commissioned by the Scottish Government following a review of Scotland’s approach to international development in the wake of Covid-19, and incorporates a needs analysis and evidence, review, a detailed description of the global and national policy contexts relevant to partner country education systems and inputs from partner country governments, civil society and development partners on their priorities for investment in Inclusive Education. Drawing on these inputs, the report proposes a focus for the Scottish Government’s inclusive education programme on learners with disabilities and girls and young women, which is due to begin implementation in 2024. It also …


Education Out Loud Case Study: School For Life, Alexander Towne, Sladana Krstic, Jolanda Butler Jan 2024

Education Out Loud Case Study: School For Life, Alexander Towne, Sladana Krstic, Jolanda Butler

International Education Research

Children living in remote rural parts of Ghana experience inequality in basic education, in terms of both access and outcomes. This issue is particularly acute in the north of the country and for girls. For example, 30 percent of children in the north have no school nearby and 20 percent will never enroll. Furthermore, transparency and accountability within Ghana’s education system is weak. Generally, information is not disseminated in a way that is accessible to most citizens (for example it is not produced in a local language), which means they are denied the opportunity to understand and engage with the …


Education Out Loud Case Study: The Gear Alliance, Alexander Towne, Sladana Krstic, Sam Boering Jan 2024

Education Out Loud Case Study: The Gear Alliance, Alexander Towne, Sladana Krstic, Sam Boering

International Education Research

This case study is part of a larger body of work funded by the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE) Education Out Loud (EOL) programme. It explores the advocacy and policy influencing (API) activities of the GEAR Alliance, a transnational alliance of four East African civil society organisations (CSO) receiving funding from EOL, and the process, results and impact of action research project they conducted in partnership with MDF/ Australian Council for Education Research (ACER), an EOL ‘Global Learning Partner’ (GLP). EOL is the GPEs fund for advocacy and social accountability. The fund aims to support CSOs to be active and …


Supporting Out-Of-School Girls And Children And Youth From Marginalised Groups In The Asean Region: A Review Of Promising Practices, Anna Dabrowski, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Payal Goundar, Debbie Wong, Jeaniene Spink Jan 2024

Supporting Out-Of-School Girls And Children And Youth From Marginalised Groups In The Asean Region: A Review Of Promising Practices, Anna Dabrowski, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Payal Goundar, Debbie Wong, Jeaniene Spink

International Education Research

Investing in girls’ and women's education can transform the experiences of individuals, as well as shape communities into the future. Girls who are given opportunities to receive an education are more likely to lead productive lives, participate in decision making processes, and shape the trajectories of others. The work of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme reflects an overarching aim to better understand the challenges facing different types of girls and women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, identify promising practices that can support girls and women, and create tangible recommendations for those responsible for supporting girls and women's …


Gender Barriers To Basic Digital Skills For Employment In The Asean Region: A Review Of Promising Practices, Louise Wignall, Anita Roberts, Justin Brown, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed Jan 2024

Gender Barriers To Basic Digital Skills For Employment In The Asean Region: A Review Of Promising Practices, Louise Wignall, Anita Roberts, Justin Brown, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed

International Education Research

Investing in girls’ and women's education can transform the experiences of individuals, as well as shape communities into the future. Girls who are given opportunities to receive an education are more likely to lead productive lives, participate in decision making processes, and shape the trajectories of others. The work of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme reflects an overarching aim to better understand the challenges facing different types of girls and women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, identify promising practices that can support girls and women, and create tangible recommendations for those responsible for supporting girls and women's …


Engaging Young Female Students In Digital Technology Programs: Part One, Sarah Buckley, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Kristy Osborne, Celia Mcneilly, Shani Sniedze, Rachel Felgate Jul 2023

Engaging Young Female Students In Digital Technology Programs: Part One, Sarah Buckley, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Kristy Osborne, Celia Mcneilly, Shani Sniedze, Rachel Felgate

Digital learning research

This report is part of a larger project commissioned by CSIRO and designed to highlight the enablers and barriers to young female students engaging with digital technology. By addressing this function, the report will thereby aid CSIRO to increase the participation of young female students in the digital technology programs offered by CSIRO’s Education and Outreach (CEdO) unit. CSIRO’s Digital Careers team have developed activities and resources to enhance and extend students’ computational thinking skills and to develop other integral skills such as teamwork, critical and creative thinking, and problem solving. In collaboration with industry partners, CEdO are responsible for …


Policy Brief: Teacher Professional Development For Students With Disability In The Asia-Pacific, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Anannya Chakraborty May 2023

Policy Brief: Teacher Professional Development For Students With Disability In The Asia-Pacific, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Anannya Chakraborty

Global education monitoring

Around the world, policymakers and development organisations are increasingly supporting the education of students with disability, particularly in the bid to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 – to ensure ‘inclusive and equitable quality education for all’. Yet globally, more than half of students with disability drop out of secondary school due to the lack of support in classrooms (UNESCAP, 2019). In the Asia-Pacific region, resource shortages and high student drop-out rates significantly impact the shift to inclusive education. Additionally, educational segregation of students with disability is widely accepted in low- and middle-income countries in the region, despite international …


Engaging Young Female Students In Digital Technology Programs: Part Two, Kristy Osborne, Rachel Felgate, Sarah Buckley Apr 2023

Engaging Young Female Students In Digital Technology Programs: Part Two, Kristy Osborne, Rachel Felgate, Sarah Buckley

Digital learning research

This report is part of a larger project commissioned by CSIRO and designed to highlight the enablers and barriers to young female students engaging with digital technology through a primary research project. This research aimed to gain insight from teachers, students and tertiary educators in order to trace the pathway from primary through to tertiary digital technology education. The perspectives of these stakeholders are compared with the findings from Part One of the project. Part Two of the larger project relates to a primary research project designed to gain further insight into the factors that facilitate and hinder young female …


Equity And Equality In Learning In Asia-Pacific: What Do Results From Large-Scale Assessments Tell Us? Gender In Focus Policy Brief, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Anna Dabrowski, Jacqueline Cheng, Victoria Klimova, Isabella Mccallum Jan 2023

Equity And Equality In Learning In Asia-Pacific: What Do Results From Large-Scale Assessments Tell Us? Gender In Focus Policy Brief, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Anna Dabrowski, Jacqueline Cheng, Victoria Klimova, Isabella Mccallum

Global education monitoring

This policy brief investigates gender disparities in learning outcomes and the factors contributing to these disparities as identified in large-scale assessment data in Southeast Asia. It additionally provides a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing equitable student learning outcomes while advocating for comprehensive support of gender-based interventions within educational quality initiatives, spanning both systemic and school-level support. The findings presented in this brief are drawn from large-scale assessment (LSA) datasets and secondary analysis of these sources. For more detailed information regarding the large-scale assessments in Southeast Asia, please refer to the appendix section.


Remote Learning For Students With A Disability: Game Changer Or Moment In Time? Literature Review, Marijne Medhurst, Maya Conway, Kathryn Richardson Nov 2022

Remote Learning For Students With A Disability: Game Changer Or Moment In Time? Literature Review, Marijne Medhurst, Maya Conway, Kathryn Richardson

School and system improvement

This literature review draws from Australian and international research into the impact of remote learning for students with disability, published between March 2020 and April 2022. The literature relates to pedagogical services provided by early childhood services and schools to support students with disability, rather than therapeutic services. The social implications for students are reviewed along with educational factors, and implications for inclusion and support by schools. Following an overview of the legal and policy frameworks supporting the education of students with disability, this review investigates benefits, challenges and opportunities for both remote learning and transition back to in-person educational …


Teacher Professional Development For Disability Inclusion In Low- And Middle-Income Asia-Pacific Countries: An Evidence And Gap Map, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, David Jeffries, Anannya Chakraborty, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz, Budiarti Rahayu, David Armstrong, Amit Kaushik, Kris Sundarsagar Nov 2022

Teacher Professional Development For Disability Inclusion In Low- And Middle-Income Asia-Pacific Countries: An Evidence And Gap Map, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, David Jeffries, Anannya Chakraborty, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz, Budiarti Rahayu, David Armstrong, Amit Kaushik, Kris Sundarsagar

Assessment and Reporting

In the Asia‐Pacific region, around one‐third of the children who are out‐of‐school have a disability and given that teacher readiness and capability are key contributors for inclusive education, it is high time for a mapping of disability inclusive teacher professional development (TPD) interventions in this region. The key objective of this evidence and gap map (EGM) is to locate evidence on interventions for in‐service TPD focussing on education for the inclusion of students with a disability in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) in the Asia‐Pacific region. A broad range of bibliographic databases and repositories were searched electronically to identify the …


Protocol: Teacher Professional Development For Disability Inclusion In Low- And Middle-Income Asia-Pacific Countries: An Evidence And Gap Map, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, David Jeffries, Anannya Chakraborty, Petra Lietz, Amit Kaushik, Budiarti Rahayu, David Armstrong, Kris Sundarsagar Dec 2021

Protocol: Teacher Professional Development For Disability Inclusion In Low- And Middle-Income Asia-Pacific Countries: An Evidence And Gap Map, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, David Jeffries, Anannya Chakraborty, Petra Lietz, Amit Kaushik, Budiarti Rahayu, David Armstrong, Kris Sundarsagar

Assessment and Reporting

According to prior research, teacher readiness and capability are key contributors for successful transition towards disability inclusive education, yet in-service teacher professional development for disability inclusion remains an under-researched area. The key objective of this evidence and gap map (EGM) is to locate evidence on interventions for disability inclusion focused teacher professional development (TPD) in low-to-middle-income-countries (LMICs) in the Asia-Pacific region. As such, it will illustrate different levels of evidence for TPD interventions as well as where there is no evidence (i.e., gaps). In other words, the EGM can make agencies aware where they might be operating in an area …


Australian Strategic Partnerships In Remote Education, Yung Nietschke Oct 2021

Australian Strategic Partnerships In Remote Education, Yung Nietschke

International Education Research

This report highlights the achievements and lessons learned from the pilot stage of the Australian Strategic Partnerships in Remote Education (ASPIRE) initiative which was managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) as part of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Partnerships for Recovery: Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response. In its pilot phase ASPIRE partnerships have strengthened collaboration between Australian and Indo-Pacific institutions and promoted the value of Australian expertise in remote teaching and learning to key counterparts in government, tertiary institutions, community organisations and teachers. Partnerships included: 'Innovative Online Learning for Lao Lecturers between Monash College and …


Mitigating The Impacts Of Covid-19: Lessons From Australia In Remote Education, Anna Dabrowski, Yung Nietschke, Pauline Taylor-Guy, Anne-Marie Chase Dec 2020

Mitigating The Impacts Of Covid-19: Lessons From Australia In Remote Education, Anna Dabrowski, Yung Nietschke, Pauline Taylor-Guy, Anne-Marie Chase

Student learning processes

This literature review provides an overview of past and present responses to remote schooling in Australia, drawing on international research. The paper begins by discussing historical responses to emergency and extended schooling, including during the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion then focuses on effective teaching and learning practices and different learning design models. The review considers the available evidence on technology-based interventions and their use during remote schooling periods. Although this research is emergent, it offers insights into the availability and suitability of different mechanisms that can be used in remote learning contexts. Noting that the local empirical research base is …


Ministerial Briefing Paper On Evidence Of The Likely Impact On Educational Outcomes Of Vulnerable Children Learning At Home During Covid-19, Geoff N. Masters, Pauline Taylor-Guy, Julian Fraillon, Anne-Marie Chase Apr 2020

Ministerial Briefing Paper On Evidence Of The Likely Impact On Educational Outcomes Of Vulnerable Children Learning At Home During Covid-19, Geoff N. Masters, Pauline Taylor-Guy, Julian Fraillon, Anne-Marie Chase

Student learning processes

The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide evidence of the likely impact on educational outcomes for vulnerable children learning at home as a result of the COVID-19 response measures, and the merits of a range of delivery models. The paper is structured in four sections. Section 1 reports data from three international research programs and from the Australian National Assessment Program ICT Literacy. The purpose of this section is to use data collected in large-scale assessment programs that have representative national samples of participants to describe the profile of disadvantaged students in Australia. Section 2 discusses themes emerging …


Assessing Learning Of Students With Disabilities, Amit Kaushik Apr 2020

Assessing Learning Of Students With Disabilities, Amit Kaushik

Teacher India

ACER and the Network on Education Quality Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific (NEQMAP) reviewed existing inclusive education policies and practices in the Asia-Pacific region with a particular focus on learning assessment of children with disabilities.


Fostering Educational Inclusion: Reality Far Removed From Policy, Ashu Kapur Jan 2020

Fostering Educational Inclusion: Reality Far Removed From Policy, Ashu Kapur

Teacher India

The ground realities of inclusive education narrate a sad story of discrimination. Ashu Kapur shares the findings of her recent study.


Are The Rights Of Children In Conflict With The Rights And Entitlements Of School Teachers?, Vimala Ramachandran Jan 2020

Are The Rights Of Children In Conflict With The Rights And Entitlements Of School Teachers?, Vimala Ramachandran

Teacher India

Unfavourable treatment and discrimination continue to dominate Indian classrooms. This article describes on-ground realities and systemic challenges of school education in India.


Disability Inclusive Education: Practitioner Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2019

Disability Inclusive Education: Practitioner Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

This module is designed to inform those who engage with and lead policy dialogue with international and domestic partners of diverse implementation strategies and key priorities in disability-inclusive education. It is recommended that users complete the Disability-Inclusive Education: Foundation Level module as background information to this Practitioner Level Module.


Disability Inclusive Education: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2019

Disability Inclusive Education: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

The purpose of this module is to provide introductory information about the rationale, purpose, benefits, key issues and outcomes of disability-inclusive education. The module focusses on disability-inclusive primary and secondary education, with some reference to post-school education and training (PSET) and early childhood education (ECE). Whilst great gains have been made in access to quality primary education for general populations, fundamental reform is still required to enable access for children with disabilities. This module provides foundational information to enable engagement in this topic, and the provision of general advice. A deeper presentation of issues and approaches can be found in …


Equitable Learning Assessments For Students With Disabilities (Neqmap Thematic Review), Anannya Chakraborty, Amit Kaushik, Unesco Office Bangkok And Regional Bureau For Education In Asia And The Pacific Jan 2019

Equitable Learning Assessments For Students With Disabilities (Neqmap Thematic Review), Anannya Chakraborty, Amit Kaushik, Unesco Office Bangkok And Regional Bureau For Education In Asia And The Pacific

Assessment and Reporting

Asia-Pacific is home to 690 million persons with a disability. Persons with disabilities experience lower educational opportunities as children and therefore also face fewer opportunities as adults. Children with disabilities experience barriers to participating in education that result in enrolment rate drops of up to 53 per cent between primary and secondary education, making it increasingly difficult for persons with disabilities to secure employment. Low participation rates and other barriers have a serious impact on the learning achievement and learning outcomes of learners with disabilities. This thematic review provides an overview of the existing inclusive education policies and practices in …


Completing University In A Growing Sector: Is Equity An Issue?, Daniel Edwards, Julie Mcmillan Aug 2015

Completing University In A Growing Sector: Is Equity An Issue?, Daniel Edwards, Julie Mcmillan

Higher education research

Access to university has always been an issue for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In the recent context of an expanding higher education system in Australia, some accessibility issues have been alleviated. This context offers an opportunity to explore the pathways of disadvantaged students through university. In this expanded system, will disadvantaged students be more or less likely to complete university? Will demographic or enrolment characteristics influence the likelihood of these students to complete? This report details the findings from a research project funded by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) that explores new data tracking student …


Case 7: Frankston Special Development School, Michelle Anderson, Leanne Eames Jan 2013

Case 7: Frankston Special Development School, Michelle Anderson, Leanne Eames

Tender Bridge

Frankston Special Developmental School provides a specialised and challenging curriculum in a supportive environment for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities whose ages range from five to eighteen years. Individual education programs are delivered by trained special education staff, including a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist. Students also have access to extracurricular programs. The 120 students who attend live within a 20-kilometre radius of the school. The School has been a subscriber of Tender Bridge since 2010, but did not really make use of the subscription in the first year. But that all changed when the …


Case 6: Armidale High School, Nsw - Backtrack Community Partnership, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2012

Case 6: Armidale High School, Nsw - Backtrack Community Partnership, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Tender Bridge

Armidale High School is a comprehensive, partially selective high school in Armidale, NSW. The school has about 90 Aboriginal students out of a total school population of just over 600. The school has a range of community partnerships that have been initiated to cater for a wide variety of student career transition programs. Armidale High School (AHS) and BackTrack Youth Works (BYW) have had a strong partnership since 2006, when BackTrack first started working with young Indigenous people in Armidale. Since BackTrack began running programs at AHS, there has been a documentable increase in the number of young people who …


Case 3: Waikerie Independent Learning Centre, Michelle Anderson Jan 2011

Case 3: Waikerie Independent Learning Centre, Michelle Anderson

Tender Bridge

Waikerie Independent Learning Centre provides a flexible learning pathway for disadvantaged young people. Neil White is the Principal of Waikerie High School, and this is their story of seeking to address a real need for some of the youth in Waikerie and surrounding communities.


Case 2: Books In Homes, Michelle Anderson Jan 2010

Case 2: Books In Homes, Michelle Anderson

Tender Bridge

Books in Homes provides new books of choice to disadvantaged kids who typically grow up in “bookless” homes. The Programme results in improving literacy and attendance rates in participating schools. Kim Kingston is the Manager of Books in Homes, and this is her story of growing and resourcing a ‘great idea’.


Case 1: The Outdoor Classroom, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2010

Case 1: The Outdoor Classroom, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Tender Bridge

This storied account of practice looks at the development of a program for boys who, for various reasons – learning difficulties, behaviour, family and emotional concerns – were struggling. ‘The Outdoor Classroom’ project idea grew out of the national ‘Green Corps’ program for 17-24 year old unemployed youth. Waiting until boys were 17, however, did not seem like a good idea; boys were ‘at risk’ of leaving school before then. This is the story of how Anglican Community Care and Tenison Woods College came together to grow and resource ‘The Outdoor Classroom’ to identify and redirect boys who might have …


The Performance Of Students In The Australian Capital Territory On Pisa: Report To The Act Department Of Education And Training, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli Feb 2008

The Performance Of Students In The Australian Capital Territory On Pisa: Report To The Act Department Of Education And Training, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

The purpose of this report is to examine the performance of ACT students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) over the three cycles: Reading literacy in 2000, Mathematical literacy in 2003 and Scientific literacy in 2006. The report provides an opportunity to examine achievement within the territory, in comparison to the rest of the country and internationally.


The Individual Child, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 1952

The Individual Child, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Primary School Studies

First published in 1952, this pamphlet suggests that schools should consider the needs and possibilities of each, individual child and cater the curriculum accordingly, to meet those needs. It suggests two considerations in determining best practice: determining the ‘learning level’ and ‘learning load’ of each student. It also emphasises the need to distinguish between achievement and capacity, in measuring students’ success. The pamphlet argues that the aim of a ’vigorous and progressive education’ should be to promote student independence.