The delivery timeline of the NSW Curriculum Reform is to be extended to ensure the best learning outcomes for the State’s kids, following feedback from teachers, principals, school sectors and unions.
Announcing the change at a teachers’ conference in Sydney, the Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car told teachers that instead of having to learn, plan for and get ready to teach 100 new syllabuses over the next two years, the new syllabuses would be staggered, with core subjects prioritised.
Ms Car said this would also provide teachers with more time to ensure the new Maths and English curriculum across Years 3 to 10 were ready for full implementation on Day 1, Term 1, 2024.
“Feedback from teachers and advisory groups was that the current curriculum reform schedule is unworkable, that the timeline is too challenging and as a result it is putting more pressure on teachers at a time when NSW is already grappling with a teacher shortage crisis,” Ms Car said.
“Each new syllabus requires teachers to undertake professional learning, develop new lessons and assessments, and ensure consistent reporting to parents – all of which takes time,” she said.
“A strategic rollout will mean teachers have adequate time to consult and get to know the new syllabuses and the time to implement them well.”
Ms Car said that instead of releasing 26 syllabuses for consultation in Term 2, the Government would prioritise the syllabuses that were core learning in Term 3, including consulting on four mandatory K to 6 syllabuses and four mandatory 7 to 10 syllabuses, and releasing new Years’ 11 and 12 Health and Movement Science syllabuses.
She said the shift in timeframes meant all new syllabuses would be delivered to teachers by 2027 – in line with the intent of the Masters Curriculum Review, that outlined a 10-year delivery timeframe.
“A full reform timeline will be redeveloped and published by the NSW Education Standards Authority,” the Minister said.
