Federal Government education system review recommends 'rebalancing' of school curriculum, greater focus on literacy and numeracy

Updated

Australia's school curriculum is overcrowded and needs to refocus teaching in early childhood years on literacy and numeracy, according to a Federal Government-commissioned report released on Sunday.

The review of the education system, which received more than 1,500 submissions, noted that teachers of "years five and six are expected to teach, assess and report on 16 different subjects".

Reviewers Professor Kenneth Wiltshire and Dr Kevin Donnelly said many submissions argued the depth of information being taught was compromised for breadth of subjects.

The report also noted problems with teachers being required to integrate the themes of Aboriginal studies, sustainability and Australia's engagement with Asia across the curriculum.

The review recommended "rebalancing the curriculum" to ensure what students were being taught was appropriate and there were no gaps in content across key subjects.

It also called for a bigger focus on phonics when teaching reading during early childhood years and teaching traditional literature, like poetry.

All of us here weren't taught grammar at school and therefore you couldn't expect the teachers of today to have a strong grounding in spelling and punctuation Education Minister Christopher Pyne

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said he supported a greater focus on literacy and numeracy.

"They have effectively said that phonics should be the basis for literacy from foundation to give students a very strong grounding in being able to read so that they can then learn," he said.

Concerns were also raised about teachers not having the knowledge and skills to teach grammar.

Mr Pyne said he does not blame teachers for a lack of grammar skills but wanted the issue addressed.

"All of us here weren't taught grammar at school and therefore you couldn't expect the teachers of today to have a strong grounding in spelling and punctuation," he said.

"This will be a slow process because obviously the training of teachers at university is a many-year process."

The report said there was also a fear changes in government could lead to constant changes in the curriculum's "priorities".

Curriculum review an unnecessary 'political distraction'

Opposition education spokeswoman Kate Ellis welcomed the release of the report, but said she was focused on the Government's cuts to the education budget.

"I think it has been feedback from many people in education circles that we need to look at ensuring there isn't overcrowding, particularly at a primary school level," she said.

"This is something that has been feedback, that's been coming for a long time, and I think it's sensible that we look at ways that we can constantly improve the implementation of the national curriculum."

A preliminary report, released in June, suggested there would be no recommended changes to the curriculum.

According to the report released today, the Federal Government would work with state and territory governments to consider the review's recommendations before any action was taken.

However, Australian Education Union president Angelo Gavrielatos said there is nothing in the Government's response that has justified the review of the national curriculum.

"It has not told us anything that we don't know and, indeed, it certainly highlights that it was intended to be a political distraction, diverting attention from what matters most and that's Gonski funding reforms which this Government wants to turn its back on," he said.

"This Government has turned its back on our neediest students, our most disadvantaged students, by failing to commit to the funding reforms."

Topics: education, schools, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia

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