A national curriculum is not necessarily an excellent curriculum

What plans exist to ensure that the documents of a national curriculum are practical and can be implemented in all schools? For example, how does the National Curriculum Board plan to support primary teachers who may have four new syllabuses to work with simultaneously? There is no talk of any teacher professional development or support.

There is so little known about the directions for the national curriculum. We don’t even know how many different courses will be offered at the senior level within the Mathematics discipline, for example. Will we have a Mathematics course as rigorous as the NSW Extension 2 (4 Unit) Mathematics course? Will our students still have access to Modern History, Ancient History and opportunities for independent research as in our current Extension course? I don’t want to lose the rigour of all NSW syllabuses - in every subject, and at every level from Kindergarten to Year 12. There is not yet any discussion about topics to be included in any of the courses of the national curriculum, nor about the depth or breadth of the syllabuses.

While the detail of it all is still to come, the date for implementation is January 2011. That’s fewer than two years from now! The national curriculum is too important in the education of our young people and for the future of our society for us to cede control to a remote body without “runs on the board”.

Proponents of a national curriculum often argue that it will ensure the highest-quality curriculum for all students across Australia. Why should it? It is being developed by groups of people - people who can get it right or get it wrong - just as has happened in the states at various times. A national curriculum is not necessarily an excellent curriculum, especially if developed with little consultation or funding and on an unrealistic timeline.

I would support a national curriculum if:

• it was a broad curriculum, well supported by an appropriate professional development program, and well funded;
• those designing the curricula were appointed by a transparent process;
• the process was collaborative, with all stakeholders around Australia consulted at the national body’s expense; and
• the timelines were such that the goal of a world-class curriculum and assessment regime was achievable.

I would only accept a national curriculum if it was at least as good as the NSW curriculum we have now.