Media releases
Today, Education Ministers endorsed Australia’s comprehensive curriculum, which sets high expectations and standards for what all students should know and be able to do, and which supports a deeper conceptual understanding and improvement of educational performance.
“The Australian curriculum ensures that every student, no matter where they live, will have access to the same high standard. It reflects the priorities and expectations we set for our youth, and this program sets a new high benchmark, ”said ACARA Director General David de Carvalho.
“The important thing is that it is a more concise and accessible program that defines the basic content that our children should learn. Along with new resources designed to support our teachers, the Australian curriculum is expected to improve student outcomes.
“There is a greater focus on voice acting in English and on mastering basic mathematical facts, concepts, skills and processes. Students will be introduced to concepts and processes at the right time.
“The story has been significantly cleared up, giving more time for in-depth teaching. There is a strengthening of explicit training of consent and respect for F-10 according to age ”.
Ministers reviewed the final project earlier this year and supported the revision of 6 of the 8 areas of study, as well as inter-program priorities and common opportunities. Further revisions were in demand in mathematics and the humanities and social sciences, which are now approved.
The Australian Curriculum is a summary of major changes
- removing and reducing content so that the curriculum can be taught with depth and rigor, including a 21% reduction in the number of content descriptions that describe what is taught and what students need to learn
- more focused on English acoustics
- more focused on students mastering basic mathematical facts, skills, concepts and processes and getting to know them at the right time
- clarifying what mathematical calculations need to be done without a calculator, emphasizing the importance of achieving basic skills
- revision of the sequence of content in mathematics, in particular, notation of time, introduction of fractions, recalling the facts of multiplication and solving linear equations
- raising math standards in Year 1 with respect to addition and subtraction, and with additional content, setting expectations regarding memorization and mastery of multiplication facts (“time tables”) starting in Year 2.
- giving priority to the history of Australia in the 9th and 10th years in a global context
- deepening students’ understanding of the history and culture of Australia’s first nations, the impact of the arrival of British settlers on Australia’s first nations, and their contribution to the construction of modern Australia
- strengthening and clear learning about the origins and heritage of Australian democracy and the diversity of Australian communities
- strengthening explicit learning consent and respect for the F-10 according to age
- adding privacy and security to the digital technology curriculum
- increasing attention to students’ physical activity and enjoyment with an emphasis on outdoor activities and the outdoors.
- strengthening the Year of Foundation by determining the required content for the first year of school in all 8 fields of study.
ACARA is also continuing to work in the important area of mental health of young Australians. This will be reflected in later updates to the health and physical education curriculum.
Australian Curriculum – consultation
The review aimed to improve the curriculum from the Foundation to 10 years by clarifying, restructuring and declaring the content. For the first time, proposed reviews of the entire Australian F-10 program were published for public discussion at the same time. During this consultation period, more than 6,000 online surveys and 900 emails were received. Eighteen reference groups of teachers and curricula, consisting of 360 teachers and curriculum professionals from across Australia, also supported and advised in the review process.
“The Australian curriculum should be a broad community consensus and based on well-informed and researched data, and the consultation process has helped to achieve this result,” said Sharon Foster, director of the ACARA curriculum. “As a result, the final version has been greatly improved.”
ACARA appreciates the guidance provided by the Ministers of Education, as well as the contribution, guidance and support provided by practicing teachers, curriculum experts, subject experts, academics and higher professional and industrial organizations, as well as the broad public feedback received during the consultations.
“I want to thank everyone who participated in the consultation for their contribution, guidance and support. It has helped shape Australia’s program to help our education system achieve our national goals of excellence and equity, ”Ms. Foster said.
The existing Australian curriculum, which is currently taught in schools, and all support resources will continue to be available on the current Australian curriculum website until all states, territories and schools introduce an updated curriculum.
The Australian Curriculum is a new website
The updated curriculum, version 9.0, will be available on the new website in the 2nd semester of 2022 and will be implemented by schools according to deadlines set by education authorities in states and territories.
To support the implementation of ACARA will come out and develop resources for teachers with a focus on new and changing areas of content.
Government “will consider continuous curriculum updates”
In a statement, Acting Secretary of Education and Youth Stuart Robert said that a revised version 9.0 of the Australian program could be taught in Australian schools from 2023:
The Australian curriculum now sets higher standards of educational achievement in Australia. It has been refined, allowing teachers to focus on what is most important and based on evidence, for example, acoustics is included in English teaching.
“It is important that the ministers also noted that they will consider continuously updating the curriculum so that more iterative improvements can be made in the future,” said Minister Robert.
At our February meeting, the governments of the Commonwealth and Western Australia requested additional reviews of two areas of study: the humanities and social sciences (HASS) and mathematics.
“The Commonwealth has expressed a strong opinion on the necessary improvements and is pleased that ACARA has worked with experts to further promote this version.
In the final version agreed today, the content of Australian history is mandatory in both the 9th and 10th years, where it was previously optional. It will strengthen the way our youth appreciates our prosperous, democratic country.
“Importantly, this means that high school students will study history after settling from the period of 1750 to the First World War. They will also learn about the impact of migration to Australia after World War II and the significant contribution that migrants have made to Australia’s success.
“The history of indigenous peoples remains an important part of the curriculum and is included in the fund until the 10th year, and first-year students will study the history of indigenous peoples of deep time as a compulsory part of the 7th year.
“A clearer curriculum in mathematics brings the introduction of key concepts in line with our international counterparts and focuses on mastering the basics in the primary grades.
“In February, all ministers agreed to demand a further review of mental health content in the field of health education and physical education (HPE).
ACARA recommended, and all ministers supported, this further iterative work on mental health content, which should be completed by the end of 2022. This will give ACARA time to work closely with experts.
Strengthening Indigenous languages in Australian classes
Indigenous local languages will be introduced in the classroom, with the federal government funding the development of up to 60 bilingual books over three years.
NGOs will allocate $ 3 million to collaborate with indigenous schools and communities to develop and print books in English and local.
Indigenous Affairs Minister of Australia Ken Wyatt said the initiative directly contributes to task 16 to close the gap – The cultures and languages of the Aboriginal people and the people of Torres Strait are strong, sustained and thriving.
“In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in the languages of the Aboriginal languages and the Torres Strait Islands, both among the indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Australia,” said Minister Uyat.
“This project removes languages from dictionaries and word lists and introduces them into more common use, supporting the acquisition of indigenous languages by young people
“Indigenous students will be able to practice their local languages in a culturally safe way and share stories of their culture and history with their peers, while raising literacy levels as students learn to read and speak in their usual way.”
“Books in two languages will help all Australian children learn about the world’s oldest living culture and help our nation’s path to reconciliation.”
Textbooks in two languages will be accompanied by a digital learning resource relevant to the Australian curriculum.
“The digital learning resource will provide guidance on how to conduct culturally safe lessons as classes learn local languages, cultures and history, both positive stories and the injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait residents throughout Australia’s history.” said Minister Wyatt.
“Once the books and lessons are delivered to the local area, these books will be published more widely so that all Australians can explore and learn more about our unique languages as part of our nation’s path to reconciliation through truth.”
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