Special education a welcome addition to curriculum
22 Feb 2011
Media release Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, welcomed the news that the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) had finally recognised the importance of special education needs in the national curriculum.
The latest ACARA news released today indicated that the drafters would be looking to integrate special education needs into the curriculum.
"Last year I raised concerns in the Parliament that the draft K-10 curriculum for English, maths, science and history curriculum design appeared to have ignored the education and assessment of students with learning difficulties and disabilities," Mr Pyne said.
"The draft curriculum as it stands now provides teachers with no material or outcomes for students with special education needs, so it was an area that clearly needed to be addressed" he said.
"The Coalition is pleased that additional content and achievement standards will be developed for this group of students making the curriculum more inclusive.
"The number of students with learning difficulties or a disability has increased over time, and there is a real need to improve support arrangements for teachers in this area," Mr Pyne said.
February 22, 2011
Media Contact:
Adam Howard
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