Homework ditched for extra class time in school reform proposal

Schools must be dragged out of the 1900s through hi-tech teaching, ability-based lessons and flexible hours to suit modern families, the Productivity Commission says.

Should homework be done in school time?

Schools must be dragged out of the 1900s through hi-tech teaching, ability-based lessons and flexible hours to suit modern families, the Productivity Commission says.

Swapping homework for longer school days is explored in its review of educational productivity.

“Extending hours may also ­reduce stress on harried parents trying to balance work and their children’s needs,’’ it states.

“(The result would be) increasing parental labour force participation rates and potentially reducing the need for after-school hours homework.’’

The report calls for “alternative, new and innovative’’ schooling models, similar to US Charter Schools or England’s academies, to help socially disadvantaged students succeed.

Longer school hours could help struggling students catch up on their school work, it says.

“Students that have missed learning foundational concepts will struggle to keep up,’’ it states.

“Schools could use the ­additional hours of instructional time to provide extra support to students struggling in specific subjects. It could allow students to explore hands-on science, engineering, music or arts.’’

The report controversially calls for “streaming’’ students in classes based on their academic achievement and abilities, instead of teaching them the same content based on year level.

“The downside of the conventional approach is that low-achieving students often lack the skills necessary to progress, and fall further and further behind,’’ it states. “At the same time, high-achieving students who are ready to progress to more challenging and advanced material can be held back.’’

It proposes a more flexible ­approach of using an “untimed syllabus’’ that tailors teaching to each student’s needs.

The report calls on schools to “work smarter’’ by embracing technology and artificial intelligence for lesson planning and ­delivery, as well as routine administrative tasks and tests.

It recommends digital delivery of live or recorded lessons in hard-to-staff subjects, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and languages, especially in remote schools.

And it calls for libraries of curriculum materials so teachers do not have to plan each lesson, ­assignment or exam from scratch.

“The basic model of school ­operation in Australia has changed little over the past century,’’ the report states.

The report notes that public funding to state schools, which educate two-thirds of Australia’s students, has grown 18 per cent while jumping 34 per cent in Catholic schools and 47 per cent in private schools.