NSW go-slow on schools plan

NSW schools will implement the national curriculum by 2016, about two years behind the rest of the nation.

NSW schools will implement the national curriculum by 2016, about two years behind the rest of the nation.

The NSW government yesterday refused to commit to introducing future subjects, including national courses for Years 11 and 12. Education Minister Adrian Piccoli unveiled NSW syllabuses for the first four subjects of the national curriculum in English, maths, science and history.

Mr Piccoli refused to commit the government to implementing further subjects under the national curriculum, with development under way in seven more subjects, including geography, languages, the arts, economics and physical education. "We'll wait and see as with the first four subject areas where the government, on the advice of the Board of Studies, made sure the NSW curriculum was in no way reduced because of national curriculum but enhanced and improved," he said.

"We won't be accepting other subject areas unless we have the same guarantees."

The NSW Board of Studies has said it would consider any future national curriculum subjects only as part of its regular cycle of review, which happens every 10 years or so.

Other states began introducing the first four subjects this year, with implementation to be completed by next year or 2014, but the courses will be gradually introduced in NSW schools from 2014 and staggered across subjects and years until 2016.

The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority is expected to release the final version of courses for Years 11 and 12 by the end of the year, but Victoria and NSW have expressed concerns about the earlier draft of the senior courses.

NSW Board of Studies president Tom Alegounarias said the syllabuses were developed from the national curriculum in consultation with teachers and represented the best possible outcome.

Federal school Education Minister Peter Garrett is on leave and was unable to comment yesterday.