Schools to receive $1m funding to teach ‘Aussie values’ to students
The Morrison Government will spend $1 million creating a new tool for teachers to instil Australian values and boost their students’ understanding of politics.
Primary and secondary school teachers will encouraged to instil Australian values and teach their students about the political process, under a plan by the Morrison Government.
Education Minister Dan Tehan will today provide $1 million for a new guide for teachers to improve how civics and citizenship is taught in classrooms.
Every three years since 2004, a sample of about 10,000 aged 12 and 16 are assessed on their understanding of government, Australian culture and the judicial system.
The most recent report found that while more than half of all 12-year-olds had a strong understanding of civics and citizenship, it dropped to 38 per cent for 16 year olds.
Researchers found the latest result from 2016 was “significantly lower’ than the two previous test.
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Mr Tehan said he wanted students to know about “our values” and how government works in order to safeguard democracy.
“Australia has a proud democracy where every adult citizen is expected to vote and has the opportunity to engage in the political process,” he said.
“Our country is stronger when we have informed citizens who understand their responsibilities and the consequences of their actions.”
The 2016 national assessment also found that about half of all Year 6 and Year 10 students viewed talking about politics as an important part of being a citizen. About three-quarters of the students also said they had an interest in global issues.
Mr Tehan said the innovative resources, which will be distributed to primary and secondary teachers later in the year, will ensure students learn about “our democracy, our system of government and our values”.
“We understand that the future of our democracy relies on the next generation of Australians being engaged citizens,” he said.
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