Gonksi report calls for dramatic overhaul of teaching methods to reverse lost generation of students

A LANDMARK review has found Australia’s education system has failed a generation of students. The curriculum faces a huge overhaul, including teaching a child based on ability - not age or year level - and a focus on literacy and numeracy in the early years.

A GENERATION of Australian students have been let down by an education system which hasn’t kept up with times, a landmark review has found.

The scathing report, to be released on Monday, blames Australia’s dramatic 15-year slide in world ranking for reading, science and maths on outdated teaching methods and calls for a major rethink of the way students are taught.

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The Gonski 2.0 review calls for a dramatic overhaul in the way classrooms are run.

The report, authored by businessman David Gonski, recommends priority be given to move from a year-based curriculum to teaching children on their abilities, regardless of their age or year level.

Students would be given a unique ID number so teachers can plot their individual progress through a new online tool and then identify the specific skills they need to learn next.

Traditional A-F report cards would be discarded in favour of feedback which focused on the extent to which students improved in a school year.

It found many Australian schools are simply “cruising” and teachers have not done enough to stretch high-achieving students to progress beyond acceptable pass marks.

It also calls for a greater emphasis on early childhood learning and more assistance for parents to help their children develop before they start school.

The report, which has 23 recommendations, highlights:

— A DECLINE in mathematics results across all demographics and school sectors between 2003 and 2015

— A SIGNIFICANT achievement gap between Australia and the highest performing countries in both reading and maths

— CHILDREN who do not attend preschool are more likely to be developmentally vulnerable, in advantaged and disadvantaged communities

— STUDENTS from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit most if they continue to receive support through childhood and adolescence

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who commissioned the review pumping an extra $19 billion into schools over the next decade, said a quality education was the “bedrock for success throughout life”.

“We can and must do more. We now have the blueprint to do it,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We now must focus on the reforms that improve education outcomes for all Australian students.”

Education Minister Simon Birmingham says future generations of students must get the opportunities they need to succeed.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the government had accepted all the recommendations in principle and Mr Gonski will brief state and territory ministers at a special meeting this Friday.

He said Australians expected better outcomes for the record and growing funding taxpayer are investing.

“The review makes it clear Australia’s education system should make fundamental changes that would improve the prospects for every student across every school,” Senator Birmingham said.

PM Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Education Senator Simon Birmingham at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

* Every student should get a year’s worth of learning for every year at school.

* Teachers should prioritise teaching of basic literacy and numeracy in the early years.

* Student success should be measured in terms of the level of achievement and the extent of progress made

* Online tool for teachers to regularly and consistently assess where each student is at and how they are progressing

* Review the curriculum for years 11 and 12 to ensure students have the skills needed in the future.

KEY FINDINGS

* Teaching based on year or age levels rather than levels of progress leaves some students behind and fails to extend others

* Teaching must become a high-status profession of expert educators. Need to attract and retain the best and most effective teachers in the profession.

* Schools need valid and reliable evidence of effective teaching practice; independent and rigorous evaluations of commercial and other teaching and educational interventions

AUSTRALIA’S DOWNFALL 2015 WORLD RANKINGS

Reading

1. Singapore

2. Hong Kong

3. Canada

4. Finland

5. Ireland

16. Australia (down from 4th in 2000)

Maths

1. Singapore

2. Hong Kong

3. Macao

4. Chinese Taipei

5. Japan

25. Australia (from 7th in 2000)

Science

1. Singapore

2. Japan

3. Estonia

4. Chinese Taipei

5. Finland

14. Australia (down from 4th in 2000)

Source: Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools 2018

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