Newly Proposed Curriculum Faces Harsh Criticism For Removing the History of the Western World and Democracy
The newly proposed changes to the Australian curriculum, which removes references to the nation’s democratic and Christian heritage, have been strongly criticised by experts and educators, with some calling the proposed changes “radical left-wing.”
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) revealed its proposal yesterday to increase the amount of content on culture, history, and perspectives of indigenous Australians throughout the Australian curriculum.
Bella d’Abrera, director of the Institute of Public Affairs’ (IPA) Foundations of Western Civilisation Program, called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reject the “radical” new curriculum.
First Nations kids could learn about the impacts of colonisation and invasion in their classrooms for the first time under proposed changes to the national schooling curriculum.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority released draft changes to a broad range of subjects in the national curriculum including English, Science, Math, and the Humanities.
The changes stem from a review by an ACARA Indigenous advisory group which found “outdated” ideas did not reflect calls for truth-telling and inclusive language, including broadening terminology to include First Nations Australians as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The review called for greater recognition of the connection to Country, land and seas and the impact of colonisation, dispossession, with the refresh comparing and examining existing curricula in New Zealand, British Columbia, Singapore, and Finland.