School-centred Educational Reforms of the 1990s: An Australian Case Study

In this paper David Gamage of the University of Newcastle in Australia examines the school-centred reforms of New South Wales. The study opens with an historical overview, followed by a brief discussion of some of the global and national trends that have shaped the reform package. It discusses the nature of the political ideology and basic principles upon which the reforms were formulated by a Management and School Review Committee. The reform package is described and an attempt made to report on progress during the first year of implementation in the context of a critical evaluation of the major issues which have delayed the process of change. The paper concludes with a bold attempt to predict future outcomes.