SCHOOLS — CURRICULUM
1337. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the Western Australian school curriculum.
(1) Can the minister name anything in the school
curriculum that is designed to foster among students a healthy sense of
respectful pride in Australia and the country's achievements?
(2) Can the
minister provide detail on any part of the curriculum designed to help students
develop an understanding and appreciation of our country's Western
civilisation heritage?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(2)
The Western Australian Curriculum and
Assessment Outline sets out the following values, which underpin the curriculum and what students should value as a result
of their learning at school: respect and concern for others and their
rights; pursuit of knowledge and commitment to the achievement of potential;
self-acceptance and respect of self; social and civic responsibility; and environmental
responsibility.
Further, the teaching of history,
and civics and citizenship enables students to develop a lifelong sense of belonging to and engagement with civic life as an
active and informed citizen in the context of Australia as a secular, multicultural nation; knowledge of the
values, principles, institutions and practices of Australia's system of democratic government and law and the
role of the citizen in Australian government and society; and a knowledge,
understanding and an appreciation of the past and the forces that shape
society. The year 11 and 12 politics and law studies course develops students'
knowledge of the principles, structures, institutions and processes of
political and legal systems primarily in Australia.