K-10 agenda sparks school debate

Written by PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY.

PARENTS of Mansfield school children and all other interested residents are being encouraged to have their say on the proposed K-10 Australian Curriculum released on Monday.

The released draft K-10 Australian Curriculum outlines the four learning areas of English, mathematics, science and history for national comment.

The overall aim is to produce a final curriculum in the four subjects that equips all young Australians with the essential skills, knowledge and capabilities to thrive and compete in the globalised world and information rich workplaces of the current century.

School principals will be given a full outline of the changes and proposal in April.

Mansfield Primary School principal, Denise Findlay, said as long as it provides for the needs of students and still allows for individual teaching as well, it will be good.

"We have not been briefed as yet and when we are we will know more," she said.

In the mean time public feedback is easy to provide and anyone in Australian can give comment.

Go to www.australiancurriculum.edu.au, to:

• view, read or print the draft materials;

• provide feedback on any part of the draft curriculum directly, online;

• complete an online survey by rating areas of the draft curriculum or providing comments; and

• provide additional notes and written feedback online, as an attachment to the survey.

Teachers wishing to provide feedback can attend state and territory consultation sessions and workshops where they are invited to provide direct feedback on the draft curriculum materials.

Feedback from the various sources will be collated, analysed and made publicly available.

The analysis will result in decisions about adjustments and refinements that need to be made to the draft Australian Curriculum prior to final publication, later in 2010.

The consultation period for these four learning areas will close on May 23.

It is expected the final curriculum will be introduced into Australian schools from 2011.

The draft curriculum for the senior secondary years, in English, mathematics, history and science will be released in April for three months of national consultation.

Draft curriculum for further learning areas including geography, arts, and languages will follow for national consultation in 2011.