Education ministers endorsed the revised Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum at a virtual meeting last week, in response to more than 6000 online surveys and 900 email submissions received from the public.
Some of the key changes include a 21 per cent reduction in the number of content descriptions, which describe what is to be taught to and what students are expected to learn.
There will be a stronger focus on phonics in English, a method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with symbols in an alphabetic writing system.
Completing mathematics problems without a calculator is also part of the curriculum plan, along with a deepening of students’ understanding of First Nations Australian history.
A focus on the eight learning areas of Foundation students will also be strengthened through the new curriculum and an increase in outdoor activities.
This was the first time the curriculum has been released for public comment, with 18 teacher and curriculum reference groups comprising 360 teachers and curriculum specialists supporting and providing advice during the review process.
The existing Australian Curriculum that 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 are implementing the updated curriculum.
The Australian Curriculum is a national curriculum for all primary and secondary schools in Australia under progressive development, review, and implementation.
The curriculum is developed and reviewed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, an independent statutory body.
Uncluttered was one description of the new curriculum used in media education circles when describing Version 9.0.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority chief executive officer David de Carvalho said the new curriculum was a more stripped-back and teachable curriculum that identifies the essential content our children should learn.
“There is a stronger focus on phonics in English and on mastering essential mathematical facts, concepts, skills and processes. Students will be introduced to concepts and processes at the right time.
“History has been significantly decluttered, allowing more time for in-depth teaching. There is a strengthening of explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from F-10 in age-appropriate ways.”
Ministers considered the final draft earlier this year and were supportive of the revisions to six of eight learning areas, as well as the cross-curriculum priorities and the general capabilities. Further revisions were requested in mathematics and the humanities and social sciences, which have now been approved.