Education plays a critical role in shaping the
lives of young Australians and contributing to a democratic, equitable and just
society that is prosperous, cohesive and culturally diverse.
The rationale for the introduction of the
Australian Curriculum centres on improving the quality, equity and transparency
of Australia’s education system.
·
Quality – an Australian
Curriculum will contribute to the provision of a world-class education in
Australia by setting out the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for
life and work in the 21st century and by setting high standards of achievement
across the country.
·
Equity – an Australian
Curriculum will provide a clear, shared understanding of what young people
should be taught and the quality of learning expected of them, regardless of
their circumstances, the type of school that they attend or the location of
their school.
The commitment to develop a national curriculum
reflects a willingness to work together, across geographical and school-sector
boundaries, to provide a world-class education for all young Australians.
Working nationally makes it possible to harness collective expertise and effort
in the pursuit of this common goal. It also offers the potential of economies
of scale and a substantial reduction in the duplication of time, effort and
resources.
The Australian Curriculum has been written to
take account of the growth and development of young people across the years of
schooling, the diverse needs of the student population in Australian schools,
and the knowledge, understanding and skills that it is desirable for all young
Australians to learn in terms of learning areas, general capabilities and
cross-curriculum priorities.
The Australian Curriculum makes clear to
teachers what is to be taught. It also makes clear to students what they should
learn and the quality of learning expected of them. Schools are able to decide
how best to deliver the curriculum, drawing on integrated approaches where
appropriate and using pedagogical approaches that account for students’ needs,
interests and the school and community context. School authorities will be able
to offer curriculum beyond that specified in the Australian Curriculum.
The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals
for Young Australians identifies three broad categories of outcomes that the
curriculum should deliver for students. Thus the Australian Curriculum is
developed in terms of learning area knowledge, skills and understandings and
general capabilities.
·
A
solid foundation in in knowledge, skills and understandings, and values on
which further learning and adult life can be built
The curriculum will
include a strong focus on literacy and numeracy skills. It will also enable
students to build social and emotional intelligence, and nurture student
wellbeing through health and physical education in particular. The curriculum
will support students to relate well to others and foster an understanding of
Australian society, citizenship and national values through the study of civics
and citizenship. As a foundation for further learning and adult life, the
curriculum will include practical knowledge and skills development in areas
such as ICT and design and technology, which are central to Australia’s skilled
economy and provide crucial pathways to post- school success.
·
Deep
knowledge, understanding, skills and values that will enable advanced learning
and an ability to create new ideas and translate them into practical
applications
The curriculum will
enable students to develop knowledge in the disciplines of English,
mathematics, science, languages, humanities and the Arts; to understand the
spiritual, moral and aesthetic dimensions of life; and open up new ways of
thinking. It will also support the development of deep knowledge within a
discipline, which provides the foundation for interdisciplinary approaches to
innovation and complex problem solving.
·
General
capabilities that underpin flexible and analytical thinking, a capacity to work
with others and an ability to move across subject disciplines to develop new
expertise:
The curriculum will
support young people to develop a range of generic and employability skills
that have particular application to the world of work and further education and
training, such as planning and organising, the ability to think flexibly, to
communicate well and to work in teams. Young people also need to develop the
capacity to think creatively, innovate, solve problems and engage with new
disciplines.
Source:
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/home/australian-curriculum-overview