World News
Australian schools face high disruption and performance gaps, report shows
Global assessment data shows significant classroom noise and public-private score gaps, The Guardian reports.
The short version
- A global evaluation released by ACER found classroom disruption in Australia ranks among the highest internationally.[The Guardian]
- Forty-one percent of surveyed Australian students reported frequent classroom noise and disorder, exceeding the global benchmark of 31 percent.[The Guardian]
- Students in government schools scored roughly 50 points lower than independent school peers in maths, reading, and science.[The Guardian]
- Education Minister Jason Clare urged schools to curb screen time, while Shadow Minister Julian Leeser labeled the findings a wake-up call.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- A global report found Australia's classroom disruption is among the worst in the world.[The Guardian]
- The Australian Council for Educational Research released the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment results on Tuesday.[The Guardian]
- Government school students had mean scores roughly 50 points below independent school students across science, reading, and maths.[The Guardian]
- Forty-one percent of Australian students reported frequent classroom noise and disorder, compared to a global average of 31 percent.[The Guardian]
- Federal education minister Jason Clare recommended a digital detox and decreased screen time in schools.[The Guardian]
- Shadow education minister Julian Leeser stated the assessment results should serve as a wake-up call for the federal government.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.