NSW Curriculum rollout paused

An announcement by the NSW Government that implementation of the NSW Curriculum will be paused has been welcomed.

The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch said it is encouraging that the government is listening to the profession.

“Teachers have been warning for months that the previous time frame was both unnecessary and unmanageable,” said Mark Northam, Secretary of the Independent Education Union NSW/ACT Branch.

“It’s encouraging to have a government that is finally listening to the profession,” Northam said.

The independent school sector is experiencing staffing shortages and excessive teacher workloads, and a compressed rollout of the curriculum would only exacerbate this problem.

“Implementing a new syllabus is complex and time-consuming,” Northam said.

“It takes time to get it right and to ensure the best educational outcomes for students. The teacher shortage crisis demands this enlightened response from the government, and we applaud their decision.”

The previous government’s plan was to implement changes to 26 syllabuses in the coming 12 months, despite warnings from the teaching profession that this was unworkable and would prove detrimental to student outcomes.

The 2019 NSW Curriculum Review, led by Professor Geoff Masters, suggested a 10-year rollout time frame, a recommendation strongly supported by teachers.

“This revised schedule shows the NSW Government is listening to the voice of the teaching profession,” Northam said.

“The syllabus review and reform program is the most significant change to the NSW Curriculum in many years. It is important to get it right rather than just get it done quickly.”

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