13 January 2014

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed the National Curriculum review as a fundamental part of getting the basics right in our schools.

Mr Taylor said a strong, balanced curriculum would allow Australian students the opportunity to compete globally.

“This is not about what’s wrong with the current National Curriculum. It’s not about throwing out what’s there and starting again. It’s about improving an already good document. The aim of this review is to build a curriculum that embraces knowledge and doesn’t try to be all things to all people, that doesn’t try to be prescriptive about every aspect of maths, science, history and English,” Mr Taylor said.

“The current public debate on education is flawed, because it has focused almost exclusively on funding. I don’t want to denigrate the role of money in education – it does matter – but we have been unable to get beyond money to the things that are really going to transform our schools.

“Firstly we need the basics right – attendance, literacy and numeracy and the broader curriculum. Secondly, the foundations need to be cemented across the whole system: transparent performance across all stages of education, decentralised financial and administrative decision making, a sustainable funding model. Thirdly, we need to turn teaching into a genuine profession by reviewing admission standards and performance standards and giving greater autonomy to principals. Fourthly, we need to recognise that buildings and laptops are nice, but largely irrelevant to educational outcomes.

“I welcome this review announced by the Education Minister and am proud to be part of a Government focussing on a stronger curriculum, improving teacher quality, giving more autonomy back to school principals and involving more parents in education. These are fine goals and, as the father of four school aged children, I support them wholeheartedly.”