By Lucy Carroll
NSW should accelerate the introduction of mandatory civics and citizenship lessons in schools amid a splintering in social cohesion, rising antisemitism and declining trust in democracy, experts say.
For more than 20 years, the state’s school curriculum has failed to include mandated civics content, meaning students can graduate without studying Australia’s legal system, the democratic system and national values, the Constitution and voting.
The latest round of civics and citizenship testing in 2019 showed 60 per cent of NSW year 10 students failed assessments, with results plummeting over the decade.
A joint standing committee on electoral matters report called for mandatory civics course for years 11 and 12 students.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
The state’s top private school, Sydney Grammar, has already responded to recent antisemitic attacks across the city, telling parents it is committed to fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity.
“We are reviewing current curriculum programs to ensure we continue to emphasise the importance of tolerance and understanding,” wrote Simon Bailey, the head of Grammar’s preparatory school, in a letter last week.
“We encourage our students to be upstanders and speak up against all forms of racism. It is vital we stand together to model these values, combat hatred, and build bridges between different cultures and faiths. To our Jewish families, we want to assure you that your sons’ welfare is paramount.”
A joint standing committee on electoral matters report has called for mandated civics education for all Australian students, including in years 11 and 12.
Years 9 and 10 students should study the topic for at least 10 hours a year, the report, released last week, said.
The NSW government announced last year that studying democracy and the legal system would be compulsory in schools from 2027.
But Murray Print, one of Australia’s leaders of civics education, said NSW should introduce changes sooner, urging teacher training programs to be funded this year. He also called for civics to be made a standalone subject.
“Students have substantial knowledge gaps,” he said. “This raises serious concerns about our shared values and the future of our democracy,” he said. “The rise in antisemitism points to a decline in social cohesion and the role this plays in a well-functioning democracy.”
Print said mandating civics education was vital for children to understand Australia’s democracy and legal system. “Teacher professional development should happen this year and ideally compulsory civics in school from 2026,” he said.
Under the current NSW system, students can graduate without learning anything about Australia’s democratic system unless they elect commerce in year 9.
A separate overhaul of the state’s high school history syllabus has made Holocaust education mandatory for the first time from 2027.
“Young people are getting news from social media, there is the spread of misinformation and drop in democratic participation. The government knows this is an issue,” Print said.
The committee’s report, which made 23 recommendations, noted a Victorian Education Department submission that said students “frequently confuse the notion of prime minister and president”.
A NSW public school submission said students often made “no attempt to check the reliability of information”, while another said students were “often influenced by fake news”.
“Many young people leave school without the knowledge necessary to actively participate in Australian democracy, engage with civic practices and institutions,” the report said.
Rule of Law Education Centre chief executive Sally Layson said giving teachers resources wasn’t enough.
“All teachers should be trained in civics education during their teaching degree to give them confidence. NSW should take the lead,” she said. “Democracy is fragile relies on young people understanding how the system works.”
The latest national testing for civics and citizenship showed 40 per cent of NSW year 10 students achieved the proficient standard in 2019, down from 61 per cent in 2010.
The online test measures students’ understanding of Australia’s government, national social values, rights and legal obligations.
Layson said the NSW Education Standards Authority should work with universities to develop civics teacher education programs “as soon as possible until there can be dedicated units in teaching degrees. We have a looming crisis, and it needs to be a priority.”
The report said democracies, including Australia, are facing challenges such as foreign interference, rising disinformation and discord online.
It said gaps in training and confidence mean teachers fear backlash from “bringing contemporary issues into the classroom that can be perceived as controversial”.
“Australians are increasingly consuming news on social media and other online platforms, where false narratives and misinformation can proliferate,” it said.
Anne Twomey, a specialist in Australian constitutional law, said she was concerned civics was not taught properly in schools but stressed the importance of giving teachers enough time and adequate training to teach the subject.
“We have had decades of not giving people a strong foundational understanding of [the] system of government through our schools, and that makes them more vulnerable to misinformation through social media,” she said.
A NESA spokesperson said new civics content is embedded in both mandatory and elective syllabuses and outlines “explicitly the knowledge and skills students need.”
“It aims to empower students to be informed and active participants in local, national and global communities, equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate diverse perspectives and contribute positively to a more just world.”
“Schools must teach the new mandatory syllabuses by 2027 but can choose to implement them earlier.”