Independent Schools Australia (ISA) has welcomed the announcement by the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, of copyright reforms to facilitate remote learning.
The reforms will enable schools to use a range of digital materials for teaching and learning purposes without infringing the rights of authors and publishers.
ISA CEO Mr Graham Catt said the reforms were important for both teachers and students, especially in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These reforms will ensure that copyright law allows our schools to utilise best-practice digital teaching methods. They will also reduce the administrative burden and cost of obtaining permissions and licenses for educational use,” Mr Catt said.
Mr Catt added that the reforms addressed issues that long predated COVID-19, which only exacerbated the urgent need for reform given modern educational environments and ongoing technological developments.
“This is a great step forward for Australian schools, and one which will cement Australia’s position in digital education. We commend the Attorney-General for his leadership on this issue and his engagement with the education sector,” he said.
Mr Catt also highlighted the importance of Parliament introducing the legislative changes as soon as practicable, to provide certainty and clarity for schools and educators.
“We call on all parties to support these reforms, which are in the best interests of Australian students and the future of our nation’s education system,” he said.
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