Young people have declared joining peaceful protests a key to good citizenship

Australia’s leaders of tomorrow believe this attribute is key to good citizenship.

Tomorrow’s leaders believe taking part in peaceful protests is key to good citizenship. Picture: David Geraghty

The leaders of tomorrow, currently aged 12 and 15, have declared joining peaceful protests a key to good citizenship but their understanding of our democracy and national values has been left wanting.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority report on Civics and Citizenship revealed the performance of the Year 10 and Year 6 students had plateaued when it came to the importance of our democracy and appreciating our national values.

The sixth National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship 2019 report shows 38 per cent of Year 10 students have reached the proficient standard and 53 per cent of Year 6 students have achieved the benchmark.

Year 10 students were on par with the 2004, 2007 and 2016 findings, but well down on 2013 and 2010.

Year 6 students were consistent with previous years.

The performance of the Year 10 and Year 6 students had plateaued when it came to the importance of our democracy and appreciating our national values, the report revealed. Picture: Gary Ramage

Undertaken every three years in a sample of schools, the program tests students’ understanding of Australian democracy and system of government, the rights and legal obligations of citizens and the social values that underpin Australian society.

At the same time, it surveys students’ attitudes and engagement with civics and citizenship.

The survey revealed that Year 6 and Year 10 see pollution as the biggest problem affecting Australia in 2019, closely followed by climate change and water shortage.

Maybe inspired by the climate movement, there was an increase in the proportion of students at both year levels who said joining a peaceful protest was an attribute of good citizenship.

ACARA chief executive officer David de Carvalho said the proficient standard is set at a ‘challenging but reasonable’ level of achievement, linked to the expectations in the Australian Curriculum.

“The report reveals important insights into students’ understanding and appreciation of democracy, civic processes and institutions, and how they are perceived,” he said.

“It is disappointing that the results suggest our next generation isn’t demonstrating a sufficient level of understanding of the significance and history of our democracy and shared values.”

The survey revealed that Year 6 and Year 10 see pollution as the biggest problem affecting Australia in 2019. Picture: Gary Ramage

While performance had levelled off, it was positive to see students were engaging in their community, he said.

Nearly two thirds of Year 10 students said they had collected money for a social cause or charity.

“Year 6 and Year 10 female students continue to demonstrate higher levels of civic knowledge, and the vast majority of all students indicate increasingly positive attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and Australian diversity,” he said.

Learning about Australia’s history was an important attribute to being a good citizen, 86 per cent of Year 6 students and 80 per cent of Year 10 students said.

Many year 10 students believed that immigrants should be encouraged to keep their cultural beliefs, practices and languages, and that Australia benefited by having people from many cultures and backgrounds.