Education in Australia
In Australia, a student’s postcode, socioeconomic status and background directly impact the education they can access.
The facts
Did you know that Australia has one of the most unequal education systems in the OECD?
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Australia consistently ranks in the bottom third of similarly wealthy countries for indicators of equality in education. We are 36th out of 41 countries for preschool; 25th out of 29 countries for primary school; and 30th out of 38 countries for secondary school.
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It is undeniable: large, entrenched gaps in educational opportunity exist from early childhood through to adulthood.
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And in particular, the system isn’t serving:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, who are on average six times more likely to be below the national minimum standards for literacy and numeracy.
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Students from refugee or asylum backgrounds, who miss out on basic literacy skills as they are placed in grades based on age instead of ability.
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Students from rural or remote communities, who are less than half as likely to go to university – and are more likely to drop out if they do.
What we stand to gain
At Teach For Australia, we believe in the potential of young people.
Everything we do is to serve the students – because we know that when we invest in young Australians, we all benefit.
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But how?
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Well, we know that strong educational outcomes benefit not only individuals, but society as a whole.
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The more people are educated, the healthier our democracy and economy. One report put the cost of education inequality in Australia from 2009 to 2015 at $20.3 billion.
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But it’s not just about the numbers. The research is clear: strong educational outcomes lead to us having better health and longer lives, as well as more social cohesion, inclusion and trust in our society.
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So, it’s a no brainer. Supporting equity in our education system is every Australian’s responsibility – because we all stand to gain.