Science National Curriculum Changes Called For

June 2010

The Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria (STAV) has called for a number of changes to the Australian Curriculum in its submission to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.

STAV has argued that:

• the draft science curriculum has too much content and that ‘there will not be enough time for students to achieve deeper understandings, or to develop the ability to draw evidence-based conclusions and to think critically’
• it does not prepare Year 9 and 10 students adequately for continued studies in science in the senior years
• the allocation of class time to science, while ‘ideal’ is ‘not realistic’ and would ‘place too much pressure on school resources’
• it fails to include references to emerging and cutting-edge science and technology, such as photonics, nanotechnology and DNA technology
• the materials fail to recognise the contributions that different cultures have made to science
• too much emphasis has been placed on geology and earth sciences, particularly in years 9 and 10, at the expense of chemistry and physics
• some of the materials included in geology and earth sciences could be included in the geography curriculum when it is developed
• professional development for teachers and collaboration between teachers and university science lecturers would be required to ensure the success of the Australian Curriculum.

STAV also noted that, while the Australian Curriculum proposed the creation of four senior secondary science subjects – biology, chemistry, physics and earth and environmental sciences – Victoria intended to continue to offer psychology as a VCE subject.

Finally, STAV stated that it was ‘curious’ that the Australian Government had not provided additional resources to assist schools to introduce the new curriculum.

 

 

 

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