8 Predictions for schools across Australia and New Zealand in 2022

As another school year begins many of us are still trying to process the last tricky 24 months. Now we're wondering what lies ahead for 2022. At Texthelp we have seen an increase in usage of educational technology over the last 2 years.  So we know that schools are adapting to ensure a great education for everyone. Using digital tools allows for creativity, flexibility and collaboration.

As Zeina Chalich, Principal of St Francis Xaviers, NSW,  said in our "Education and Technology in Uncertain Times?" roundtable - “Digital learning during lockdown gave us a glimpse of EdTech’s potential. What will it’s ongoing impact be?” 

We’re going to take a look at our top 8 predictions for education in Australia and New Zealand for 2022. If the future of education is something you’re interested in you’re going to want to sign up for webinar series - Future Building in Education.

This webinar series is dedicated to education in Australia and New Zealand. We’ll be hearing from a host of experts, some of whom you will have heard from before through our channels, and lots of new friends who will bring fresh perspectives. The topic 'Future Building in Education' is one close to our hearts.

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Now let’s take a look at our 8 predictions for education in 2022. 

• Rural schools will see more demand 

The increase in remote working allowed many people to reconsider where they live. It used to be that people had to live where the jobs were, and that's no longer the case. Working remotely can be done from anywhere, somewhere with more access to outdoor space, or closer to family. We're seeing people shift from the cities to more rural areas. 

• More migration 

As the borders are just opening to allow people back into Australia we can expect an increase in migration. Being able to recruit from abroad again can help companies address staff shortages. High salaries, quality of life and better weather will appeal to people who have spent the last two years in dreary lockdowns. It is likely that we will see a growth in population and demand for schools as a result.

Ben Dyer, Customer Relationship Champion at Texthelp adds “Migration benefits all society. The more  global perspectives we have the better equipped we are to problem solve and come up with creative solutions''

• Growth in online education 

There are already many online schools operating across the globe. As home working allows adults to work a distance from their offices, online learning offers young people the same flexibility. There are families who prefer remote learning and find that it suits their circumstances better. 

• The gadgets aren’t going anywhere

During the last two years our children and teenagers spent more time online. It became their source of education, entertainment and social interaction. It offered a way to connect with family that there was no other way to see. Young people have become so comfortable with using technology throughout their day, it’s an integral part of our lives. Our next prediction is in direct response to that, and probably won’t surprise you. 

• Concerns about technology

Schooling, socializing and play all took place online over the last while, and for many this was seen as a response to the unique circumstance we were in. Ideally, we might not like our kids to be online so much, and prefer them to socialize more in the real world. So we could see parents trying to reduce screen time back to pre-pandemic levels. 

• Parental involvement in education 

Our roundtable guests also included Jacinta Keenan. Jacinta is a STEM teacher from St John’s Catholic School in Richmond, Tasmania. Jacinta told us ‘The days of “What did you do at school today?” - “Not much” are over.  Now parents can see what their kids are doing, becoming more involved in their child's learning’.

Parents had to supervise school work at home, helping kids when they got stuck, marking and correcting work. As a result they appreciate the work done by teachers even more than before. Schools can expect more help with homework going forward. Any gaps and issues can be identified and reported to the school.

• NAPLAN goes online 

This year Naplan will be fully completed online, this could be a logistical challenge for some schools. There are many people who have problems with  NAPLAN, so we may see changes going forward.  We’ll be keeping an eye on this during the coming months.

• A focus on literacy and numeracy standards

Over the last few years Australia’s ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has been a topic of discussion. The gap between the highest and lowest performing students had been widening before the pandemic - what will the ongoing impact be? We’re likely to see increased pressure from the Government to address these results and improve Australia’s standing in the international ranks. 

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