R[0]="64";

T[0]="Environmental scientist wins women s award";

A[0]="By ... Editor";

Dn[0]="20060222";

Dt[0]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[0]="a04a42a49";

B1[0]="      Palmerston businesswoman Sandy Griffin has been named the Northern Territory s Businesswoman of the Year..... ";

B2[0]=" ";

B3[0]=" ";

B4[0]=" ";

B5[0]=" ";

S1[0]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Palmerston businesswoman Sandy Griffin has been named the Northern Territory's Businesswoman of the Year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Griffin won the honour ";

S2[0]=" for her role as the principal environmental scientist for HLA Envirosciences.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Griffin established the Darwin office of the company, which provides ";

S3[0]=" advice on environmental management.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; She will represent the Northern Territory at the national awards in Melbourne in October.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr ";

S4[0]=" Griffin says the awards are a rare time when businesswomen can reflect on success.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; She believes passion is the key to achieving ";

S5[0]=" success in business.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'If you don't have that passion for whatever it is you do, you are less likely to, I guess, ";

S6[0]=" achieve your vision and objectives and so on,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I think passion is one of the key things to achieving success.' ";

S7[0]=" Other leading businesswomen recognised by the Territory awards are Jo Reiter and Teresa Anderson of Darwin and Phyllis Nicoll of Alice Springs... ";

R[1]="61";

T[1]="Scientists oppose outcomes education";

A[1]="By ... Editor";

Dn[1]="20060222";

Dt[1]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[1]="a05a53";

B1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A delegation of scientists is making a last-ditch attempt to stop West Australian schools adopting an airy fairy education system they claim ";

B2[1]="protects students self esteem at the expense of competition and the pursuit of excellence... ";

B3[1]=" ";

B4[1]=" ";

B5[1]=" ";

S1[1]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A delegation of scientists is making a last-ditch attempt to stop West Australian schools adopting an 'airy fairy' education system they claim ";

S2[1]=" protects students' self esteem at the expense of competition and the pursuit of excellence.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Australian Institute of Physics yesterday voiced its ";


S3[1]=" opposition to a planned radical overhaul of the curriculum in the state's upper-school classrooms.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The AIP has backed the recently formed education ";

S4[1]=" lobby group PLATO - People Lobbying Against Teaching Outcomes - in its claims that the new system will stifle students' competitive urges by rewarding them ";

S5[1]=" for achieving at any level.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Institute state chairman Igor Bray will be among a three-person delegation of physicists from Curtin, Murdoch and ";

S6[1]=" the University of Western Australia to meet state Curriculum Council representatives on Thursday.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Professor Bray said they would discuss teachers' concerns that ";

S7[1]=" 'outcomes-based education' would let down poor students by giving them a false sense of their own competence.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Under OBE, no student can ";

S8[1]=" fail and every student achieves at one of eight 'levels'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Only students who achieve at levels six to eight are considered to ";

S9[1]=" be in the running for university.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The Curriculum Council does not see competition among students as an important factor but we do ";

S10[1]=" - we see it as vital,' Professor Bray said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Outcomes-based education will strip the hard sciences of their exclusivity from next year, ";

S11[1]=" placing teenagers destined for work as laboratory assistants and tradesmen in physics classrooms alongside future doctors and scientists.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Theoretically, a student ";

S12[1]=" could pass Year 12 physics after achieving simple 'outcomes', such as demonstrating the knowledge that energy can be transferred, that it appears in different forms ";

S13[1]=" and that it interacts with matter to produce different effects.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A student who did not understand physics formula could also pass or ";

S14[1]=" 'achieve'... ";

R[2]="47";

T[2]="NSW wins ground on school reports";

A[2]="By ... Editor";

Dn[2]="20060222";

Dt[2]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[2]="a05a53a64";

B1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The battle over the Federal Government s plan for school reports appears to have been resolved after federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson ";

B2[2]="conceded ground on ranking students... ";

B3[2]=" ";

B4[2]=" ";

B5[2]=" ";

S1[2]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The battle over the Federal Government's plan for school reports appears to have been resolved after federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson conceded ";

S2[2]=" ground on ranking students.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr Nelson threatened to withhold funding from Victoria and South Australia after the states refused to implement the ";

S3[2]=" Commonwealth's 'quartile' ranking system, which puts students in the top 25 per cent to the bottom 25 per cent of their class.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S4[2]=" Victoria had almost $600 million a year at stake, while SA risked losing $220 million.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; But in a significant shift, Dr Nelson ";

S5[2]=" has said schools would only have to provide the classroom rankings if parents asked for them.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Both states yesterday indicated that Dr ";

S6[2]=" Nelson's new position was acceptable.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Victorian Education Minister Lynne Kosky said she welcomed Dr Nelson's decision.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We won't change ";

S7[2]=" our report cards, but if parents want information about quartiles, they can ask schools for it,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We always said that ";

S8[2]=" we were giving parents more information than required by the Commonwealth, and we're glad Dr Nelson has accepted our argument.' SA Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith ";


S9[2]=" said she was pleased Dr Nelson had listened to her state's 'constant and unceasing' lobbying on the issue.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We agree with Dr ";

S10[2]=" Nelson's new plan that providing class-based data only if parents request it is a more sensible approach,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I am relieved ";

S11[2]=" that Dr Nelson will continue funding South Australian school children and that they will not be punished because we want to have the best school ";

S12[2]=" reports possible.' A spokesman for Dr Nelson confirmed the change in the Commonwealth's position.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The important thing is that parents should have ";

S13[2]=" access to these results,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The development represents a victory for Victoria and SA.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NSW and Western Australia ";

S14[2]=" had already agreed to Dr Nelson's original demand that school reports include the rankings, with parents having to request to opt out if they had ";

S15[2]=" a conscientious objection.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The demand to rank students was one of the 'strings' attached to the Federal Government's schools funding package.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S16[2]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Canberra also has demanded that school's reports return to A-to-E gradings.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Victoria last week revealed a new school report with ";

S17[2]=" A-to-E rankings, measured against statewide standards.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; But it refused to adopt the classroom ranking system, with Premier Steve Bracks describing it as ";

S18[2]=" 'nonsensical'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The ranking system was widely condemned by Victoria's education community as having no educational merit.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Critics argued the ";

S19[2]=" classroom rankings did not give a guide to real performance.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; They also said the rankings could have a negative impact on a ";

S20[2]=" child.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Victorian president of the Australian Education Union, Mary Bluett, welcomed Dr Nelson's concession.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I'm pleased that the.. ";

R[3]="46";

T[3]="Apprentice boom - and females help lead the way";

A[3]="By ... Editor";

Dn[3]="20060222";

Dt[3]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[3]="a49a53";

B1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; South Australia has recorded its highest number of apprentices and trainees - and females are leading the way..... ";

B2[3]=" ";

B3[3]=" ";

B4[3]=" ";

B5[3]=" ";

S1[3]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; South Australia has recorded its highest number of apprentices and trainees - and females are leading the way.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; At ";

S2[3]=" the end of March, there were 34,600 apprentices and trainees in SA, an increase of 2600 in the past 12 months.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This ";

S3[3]=" contrasts with national figures which show a drop of 13,400 apprentices and trainees in the past year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; According to National Centre for ";

S4[3]=" Vocational Education Research figures, SA also outpaced national growth in the number of female apprentices and trainees, with 8.7 per cent growth, compared to a ";

S5[3]=" national fall of 6.7 per cent.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Acting Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Karlene Maywald said the state was making inroads into ";

S6[3]=" skill shortage areas, with a 13 per cent rise in the number of people starting apprenticeships in traditional trades.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Traditional trades now ";

S7[3]=" comprise 37.9 per cent of all traineeships and apprenticeships in the state, compared with 33.8 per cent for the same quarter last year,' she said.<BR> ";

S8[3]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Government said strategies such as increasing the uptake of apprenticeships in traditional trades, encouraging women and indigenous people to take up ";


S9[3]=" opportunities and the South Australia Works program have assisted in the rise.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; SA also defied the national trend to record a higher ";

S10[3]=" percentage of women in training in SA, as a proportion of all apprentices and training.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Females accounted for 36.2 per cent of ";

S11[3]=" apprentices and trainees in SA during the quarter, compared with 34.7 per cent nationally.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Final-year mechanical engineering apprentice Christine Stock, 22, is ";

S12[3]=" one of several women now working in a traditionally male-dominated field.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It is fantastic that women are doing these apprenticeships.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S13[3]=" &nbsp; We bring other aspects to the job,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Stock is a finalist for Apprentice of the Year in the ";

S14[3]=" SA Training Awards to be announced tomorrow night.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Figures also show: SCHOOL-BASED commencements rose by 10 per cent in SA in the ";

S15[3]=" year ending March 2005 MORE than 20,000 young South Australians under the age of 24 were training as apprentices and trainees THE top occupation for ";

S16[3]=" apprentices and trainees was trades and related workers... ";

R[4]="45";

T[4]="DPI&F pleased with Emerald community response";

A[4]="By ... Editor";

Dn[4]="20060222";

Dt[4]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[4]="a18a33a48";

B1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Planning and preparation for the destruction of citrus trees in Emerald has been progressing well despite limited objection from a few individuals ";

B2[4]="Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Plant Health General Manager Chris Adriaansen said today... ";

B3[4]=" ";

B4[4]=" ";

B5[4]=" ";

S1[4]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Planning and preparation for the destruction of citrus trees in Emerald has been progressing well despite limited objection from a few individuals ";

S2[4]=" Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Plant Health General Manager Chris Adriaansen said today.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Adriaansen said National Citrus Canker Eradication Program ";

S3[4]=" officers had been door knocking in the township in preparation for the planned start of destruction on 12 September.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Many people have ";

S4[4]=" questions about how we are going to remove the trees, what chemical we will be using, and even what is citrus,' Mr Adriaansen said.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S5[4]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The community seem to understand that their trees have to be removed for the sake of the Emerald and Australia's citrus industry, and ";

S6[4]=" have been understanding and helpful.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Adriaansen said there were media reports from some individuals in the community that have had the ";

S7[4]=" affect of delaying negotiations for grower reimbursement and these have been very unhelpful.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'DPI&F has been providing detailed information to the affected ";

S8[4]=" growers and outlining the assistance to be funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments as well as industry,' Mr Adriaansen said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The ";

S9[4]=" Queensland and Australian governments have a commitment and that commitment stands.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Both governments are determined to ensure the affected growers receive reimbursement ";

S10[4]=" in the near future,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'If those individuals have the interests of the growers at heart they would join with others ";

S11[4]=" in the community to support rather than hinder efforts to provide reimbursement and eradicate citrus canker.' 'Uninformed comments by individuals who have taken a belated ";

S12[4]=" interest in the citrus canker issue are self-serving and do not help those who need it,' he said... ";


R[5]="32";

T[5]="Rural Remote and Regional (RRR) Women s Website Launched";

A[5]="By ... Editor";

Dn[5]="20060222";

Dt[5]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[5]="a04a46a49";

B1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Rural Remote and Regional Women s Network (RRR) today broadened its reach to rural women with the launching of its new ";

B2[5]="website at www.rrr.wa.gov.au... ";

B3[5]=" ";

B4[5]=" ";

B5[5]=" ";

S1[5]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Rural Remote and Regional Women's Network (RRR) today broadened its reach to rural women with the launching of its new website ";

S2[5]=" at www.rrr.wa.gov.au.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Ian Longson, officially launched the website at the Dowerin GWN Field ";

S3[5]=" Days.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Longson described the site as 'a most informative, attractive and easy to use site giving women an excellent resource to ";

S4[5]=" discuss the issues affecting rural WA and provide input to government.' The launch caps a year long initiative committed to providing relevant and up to ";

S5[5]=" the minute information to rural, remote and regional women, industries, government and communities.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Nikki Egginton, Chair of the RRR Network, said www.rrr.wa.gov.au ";

S6[5]=" provided a wide range of information on the Network and its activities.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The interactive forum expands the way in which RRR women ";

S7[5]=" can communicate with each other and with government on the issues affecting rural WA.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The interactive forum features discussion topics, chatrooms, news, ";

S8[5]=" events and a photo gallery for members to post their own albums for family and friends.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It will be an excellent mechanism ";

S9[5]=" for women in rural, remote and regional WA to have greater input into the RRR Network and showcase the contribution they make to their communities ";

S10[5]=" and promote opportunities for social interaction and sharing of ideas,' she said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The new interactive forum provides easy access for women to ";

S11[5]=" discuss issues and to have their say about the things that are important to them'.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The RRR Network is supported by the ";

S12[5]=" Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development to recognise, promote and expand women's contribution to their communities... ";

R[6]="19";

T[6]="Women Achieving in Australian Tourism Industry";

A[6]="By ... Editor";

Dn[6]="20060222";

Dt[6]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[6]="a04a44a49";

B1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Fran Bailey today took the opportunity to formally congratulate women in the Australian tourism industry..... ";

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S1[6]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Fran Bailey today took the opportunity to formally congratulate women in the Australian tourism industry.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S2[6]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; Speaking at Women in Tourism Conference on the Gold Coast Fran Bailey said this year's theme, 'Leading the Way', was indicative of the ";

S3[6]=" work being done by women in the tourism industry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'This conference provides a wonderful opportunity to tap into the minds of successful ";

S4[6]=" businesswomen and be inspired and motivated by their achievements,' said Fran Bailey.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'It will give delegates the tools, ideas and information needed ";

S5[6]=" to help them become even more successful in their pursuits in this highly competitive tourism industry.' Women have achieved enormous success in the Australian tourism ";

S6[6]=" industry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Six of Australia's tourism ministers are women, two of the state tourism organisations are led by women and the head of ";

S7[6]=" the tourism division within the Department of Industry Tourism and Resources is a woman.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Almost half the employment base of the tourism ";

S8[6]=" industry is women.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There are many successful businesses throughout Australia that are run or owned by women.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; More than ";

S9[6]=" 460,000 Australian and Indigenous women describe themselves as self employed in the last Census, meaning they run there own business.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'These women ";

S10[6]=" are making a huge contribution to the Australian economy and are seen as positive role models,' said Fran Bailey.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'These are very ";

S11[6]=" impressive facts that highlight the invaluable contribution women make to the tourism industry, and we should be proud of these achievements.' Clare McFarlane is one ";

S12[6]=" of many successful businesswomen in the tourism industry.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Aries Tours, located on the Gold Coast and Cairns, are leaders in the areas ";

S13[6]=" of coach charter, eco-tours, tour coordination, and guide services.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Offering a range of educational and special interest programs, and servicing corporate clients, ";

S14[6]=" with transportation for conferences and sporting events.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Tourism is one of the Gold Coast region's biggest industries and I applaud the Women ";

S15[6]=" in Tourism organisation for running events like this which can only help take the industry to the next level,' said Fran Bailey... ";

R[7]="14";

T[7]="Online training helps combat workplace harassment";

A[7]="By ... Editor";

Dn[7]="20060222";

Dt[7]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[7]="a04a46a48";

B1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A new online training program is helping employers combat rising bullying and harassment in the workplace..... ";

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S1[7]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A new online training program is helping employers combat rising bullying and harassment in the workplace.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Leading workers' compensation ";

S2[7]=" insurer, CGU, says that unhealthy workplace cultures and leadership behaviours can result in harassment issues that can lead to claims.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To address ";


S3[7]=" this CGU has developed a range of Industrial Relations (IR) training courses with e3 Learning Solutions.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CGU Safety and Risk Services Product ";

S4[7]=" Manager, Gareth Shepherd, said claims for bullying, discrimination and harassment were on the rise with more than 1000 people reporting incidences and making claims <BR> ";

S5[7]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; * each year.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Claims can result in employers paying large sums of money, and in some cases they can ";

S6[7]=" cost more than $100,000 in damages and legal fees,' Gareth said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Traditional IR training meant businesses had to take their people out ";

S7[7]=" of the office at significant expense and interruption to the business.' The new online training courses mean businesses and their employees can do crucial training ";

S8[7]=" at their own workplace, saving time, costs and helping them meet legal requirements.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Mr Shepherd said employers should also consider the significant ";

S9[7]=" effects resulting from a poorly functioning work environment resulting from discrimination or harassment.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Where discrimination or harassment is occurring in the workplace, ";

S10[7]=" poor work quality, low productivity and higher staff turnover are likely to follow,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; e3Learning Executive Director, John Freeman, said having ";

S11[7]=" an internet based training system was one important way of reducing the risk of harassment and discrimination in the workplace.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The courses ";

S12[7]=" are designed as an ongoing resource and reference tool for this complicated and ever changing area of law,' he said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The web-based ";

S13[7]=" courses include Equal Employment Opportunity in the Workplace for Employees and Managers, and Workplace Bullying and Harassment for Employees and Managers.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; CGU ";

S14[7]=" also offers a range of OH&S training courses.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The courses are available at www.cgu.com.au/safety.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; For more information call CGU ";

S15[7]=" Safety and Risk Services on 1300 138 601 or http://cgusafety.e3learning.com.au/... ";

R[8]="13";

T[8]="Students  let down  by English education";

A[8]="By ... Editor";

Dn[8]="20060222";

Dt[8]="Wednesday 22 February 2006";

Acats[8]="a53";

B1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Intelligent students are graduating from high school and entering university with writing skills that are so poor they are unable to structure ";

B2[8]="a sentence... ";

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B5[8]=" ";

S1[8]="&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Intelligent students are graduating from high school and entering university with writing skills that are so poor they are unable to structure ";

S2[8]=" a sentence.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In a survey of 660 Australian Defence Force Academy students, academics found the education system was short-changing bright pupils regardless ";

S3[8]=" of their state of origin.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'We were concerned that this otherwise high-achieving, highly motivated and able group of students were demonstrating a ";

S4[8]=" very poor command of the basic rules of English,' researcher Fiona Mueller told The Australian.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In no way do we want to ";

S5[8]=" criticise the students.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'In fact, the evidence would indicate they've been short-changed in terms of their written English (education).'  The findings ";

S6[8]=" add weight to growing concern about the education provided by Australia's state-based secondary education systems.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The ADFA students passed a rigorous selection ";

S7[8]=" process and the majority achieved a tertiary entrance rank of 80per cent or above to gain admission.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Yet many showed poor writing ";


S8[8]=" skills, Ms Mueller found.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'Between 2003 and 2005, staff became increasingly concerned about the students' lack of linguistic dexterity,' the report said.<BR> ";

S9[8]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Ms Mueller said that while students' oral communication skills were good, their written work was often littered with grammatical errors.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; ";

S10[8]=" &nbsp; ADFA Associate Dean of Education Stephen Yeomans said he had been surprised by some students' difficulty in expressing themselves clearly in written work.<BR> &nbsp; ";

S11[8]=" &nbsp; &nbsp; 'What I particularly notice is improper sentence construction, inappropriate or no punctation, lack of conjunctives, misuse of apostrophes, poor spelling and so on,' ";

S12[8]=" Professor Yeomans said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Asked to evaluate their English skills, almost half the students selected oral presentation as their greatest strength, and grammar ";

S13[8]=" as the area in which they felt least competent.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'The study of grammar ceased in primary school.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Most people ";

S14[8]=" have no idea of grammar and suddenly we are expected to know it for tertiary studies,' a male ADFA student said.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The ";

S15[8]=" research comes as the Bracks Government has proposed changes to the Year 12 English curriculum that would require students to read as few as two ";

S16[8]=" texts - one of which could be a film.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority also proposed students produce a written or ";

S17[8]=" oral project, taking their research from texts including the internet and film.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  Victorian Opposition education spokesman Victor Perton said the changes ";

S18[8]=" meant students could effectively read just one book for the year, making Victoria a laughing stock.<BR> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 'I don't believe there's any other ";

S19[8]=" country in the world that would allow its final-year native language course to have such a low threshold of achievement -- they only have to ";

S20[8]=" read one book and they can spend the rest of their time.. ";