Aussie school students may be studying from a revised national curriculum, as early as 2016.

A just-released review, proposes a range of changes to making learning, simpler.

Saffi Kerezsy reports.

TRANSCRIPT

The Federal Government review found, the current curriculum is too crowded.

It recommended a de-cluttered, parent friendly and back to basics approach.

The current emphasis on indigenous and Asian studies will be replaced with a broader world view.

Christopher Pyne, Education Minister: “There isn’t enough in the curriculum on Western civilisation and sometimes Western civilisation is covered in a negative way.”

The review also suggested the curriculum needs a stronger focus on literacy and numeracy, particularly in younger grades.

Reviewers Kevin Donnelly and Ken Wiltshire say primary school students are expected to learn too much.

The Minister believes simplifying the curriculum will make a bid difference to student performance.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says performance, without resources, does not add up.

Bill Shorten, Opposition Leader: “You can have the best curriculum in the world but if the kids don’t have the right equipment, they don’t have the right books, they don’t have the resources to be able to go to school, all the curriculum in the world doesn’t help.”

State Education ministers will meet in December to discuss their recommendations.

Mr Pyne hopes to release a final response, early next year.

Saffi Kerezsy, QUT News.