Education Ministers have agreed to a digital detox in Australian schools and a package of reforms to strengthen children's learning and support the teachers that teach them.
At the Education Ministers Meeting this week, ministers agreed:
• a digital detox in Australian schools;
• curriculum reform to strengthen the teaching of Australian maths and financial literacy and antisemitism, as well as looking at making civics compulsory in Years 9 and 10;
• and the establishment of a Teaching and Learning Commission.
Digital detox in schools
The evidence is showing us that the more time kids spend online the more likely it is that their results decline.
That's why Education Ministers agreed to set or consider screen time limits in schools across the country.
Given the risks to children's learning, ministers also agreed to restrict the use of generative artificial intelligence in primary schools and secondary school assessments.
Kids need to learn to think for themselves and there's some evidence that AI can undermine this by causing cognitive stunting.
A new Australian Schools Digital Detox Taskforce will provide advice on further steps to address excessive screen time and digital device use.
The Digital Detox Taskforce will collect the evidence, survey students, teachers and parents, and provide us with advice on what further action we should take next year.
Education Ministers have also decided to return NAPLAN writing tests in Year 5, to pen and paper. This will mean that NAPLAN better tests primary school kids' proficiency in writing without the distraction of a screen.
Stronger foundations in maths and financial literacy
Education Ministers agreed to roll out changes from next year to the curriculum for the first three years of maths.
The changes make it simpler and clearer on what students need to learn and in what order.
That's important because maths is sequential. To build knowledge you have to learn certain things before you learn others.
It includes supporting kids' development of age appropriate financial literacy.
Ministers have now tasked ACARA with the next targeted curriculum review, looking at the maths curriculum for Years 3 to 6, including a bigger focus on financial literacy.
Making civics compulsory
Democracy doesn't run on autopilot. We need to teach kids what it is and what it requires.
Research by ACARA has shown we need to improve high school students' understanding of our democracy.
It shows general knowledge about civics has dropped to its lowest level since testing began in 2004.
That's why we have asked ACARA to provide advice on making Civics and Citizenship content compulsory across the country in Years 9 and 10.
This would mean every high school student learns about the Constitution, how laws are made, how the legal system works, how democracy works, how Australia works.
Tackling antisemitism
Following the Bondi attack, we said we would review the National Curriculum to strengthen understanding of the evils of antisemitism and the horrors of the Holocaust.
The Antisemitism Education Taskforce endorsed recommendations by ACARA and Education Ministers have now agreed to them and they will start next year.
The changes include understanding of Jewish history and culture and the contributions Jewish Australians have made to our country.
These changes are important but there is always more we can do to stamp out racism in all its noxious forms.
The Social Cohesion Education Advisory Council, to be chaired by David Gonski AC, will progress further work to strengthen social cohesion through education.
It will also provide advice on how to better embed the teaching of Australian values into the curriculum.
Establishing the Teaching and Learning Commission
We have agreed to establish a new Teaching and Learning Commission.
This will be a single body responsible for the national curriculum, national testing, national teacher standards, teacher training and research.
Teachers don't experience those four things separately. They experience it together in the classroom.
This will make it easier and simpler for teachers and schools to get the information, resources and support they need.
The Commission will bring under one roof:
• the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA);
• the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL);
• the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO); and
• Education Services Australia (ESA).
The Commission would allow for greater co-ordination between different areas of the school education system, with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
It will also help support the key reforms being rolled out across schools through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"We have signed long-term agreements with every state and territory to fix the funding of our public schools.
"That funding is tied to reforms that we know work: things like phonics and phonics checks, numeracy checks and small group tutoring.
"Today we're announcing the next stage of reforms to help our kids learn and to support our teachers.
"A digital detox in schools restricting screen time and the use of AI.
"Strengthening the way we teach maths to the youngest students so they get this essential life skill.
"Bringing under one roof a body that's responsible for the national curriculum, national testing, national teacher standards, teacher training and research.
"This will make it easier and simpler for teachers and schools to get the information, resources and support they need.
"Schools don't just teach numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills. They also build character.
"We have to make sure our students are learning about our democracy and Australian values.
"We're strengthening the curriculum here too, including taking a look at compulsory civics in High School."
