In most developed countries a majority of the citizens benefit from extensive educational opportunities, yet there is a growing number of people in these same countries who are educationally disadvantaged because of their sociocultural backgrounds. There are four stages of educational disadvantage including: (1) limited experiences in early…

Emphasizes the importance of developing an Aboriginal form of education by Aboriginal teachers. Expresses concern that the western bureaucratic educational system will not permit a suitable Aboriginal system to develop. Describes the Deakin-Batchelor Teacher Education Program as an example of action research in Aboriginal teacher education.…

The Gender and School Education study was undertaken to collect baseline data against which progress in implementing the National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools can be measured. The study was designed to provide data on gender matters related to boys as well as girls. A total of 408 schools across Australia were involved:…

This report analyzes the Participation and Equity Program's two objectives of reducing significantly the number of Australian students prematurely leaving full-time education and of fostering more equal education, and discusses strategies for achieving these objectives. Following a statement by the Minister of Education and Youth Affairs and an…

Why radical feminism, which until so recently appeared to be firmly identified with movements toward a common curriculum, will now exert pressure toward greater curricular differentiation is discussed. Multiculturalism and its implications for curricula in Canada, Australia, Africa, and Great Britain are also examined. (RM)

Incidents in two Australian secondary schools illustrate the real problems of discrimination that aboriginal students face in the Australian education system in spite of policies intended to combat discrimination and promote the needs and rights of minority students. A program to combat racism in six schools is described. (SLD)

Case studies showed that inequality between women and men is a very general feature of the Australian secondary school system. New approaches to the reform of sex inequalities in education are proposed. (RM)

This book presents an overview of the different policy approaches to educational disadvantage and equity within the Australian public school system. It highlights two general trends: the shift toward school-based management and funding approaches increasingly directed toward reading and mathematics achievement. More specifically, the book: (1)…

Available research on access to postsecondary vocational education and training (VET) and equity for disabled people was reviewed to identify the barriers that continue to confront disabled students interested in pursuing postsecondary VET and the factors that contribute to disabled students' success in VET in Australia and internationally. The…