$196-million to reform NSW curriculum

The NSW Government has announced almost $200-million to supercharge a major overhaul of the NSW curriculum will be included in the 2021-22 Budget.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the $196.6 million package over four years represented the first major rewrite of the school curriculum in thirty years.

“Education is key to giving our children the brightest futures and this government is investing in education like never before, improving schools inside and outside the classroom, helping our young people reach their potential through a world class education,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Under this reform, the curriculum will be updated and streamlined by more than 200 syllabus experts to ensure it provides a strong foundation in literacy and mathematics, and clearer post-school pathways, linking learning to future employment or study.”

The new NSW Curriculum will be delivered on a new interactive digital portal to support teachers deliver the curriculum in the classroom, a first for NSW.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the new curriculum portal is a critical part of the most significant curriculum reform in a generation.

“The NSW Curriculum reform is about delivering the knowledge and skills students need to succeed, and it is all backed up by evidence,” Ms Mitchell said.

“The new portal will help teachers integrate syllabus materials and deliver lessons driven by the latest research and resources, meeting the needs of our students in a way we have never been able to do before.

“The new curriculum and the portal will save time for teachers, improve clarity and make the implementation of the syllabuses even easier. The investment will allow teachers to unlock the curriculum’s potential while arming them with the best resources, multiplying the positive impacts of the reform.”

The new platform is under development, with the goal of going live in Term 4, 2021 with the new K-2 English and Mathematics syllabuses.