612 ABC

E&OE TRANSCRIPT Interview - 612 ABC Brisbane with Steve Austin Monday 13 October 2014 SUBJECT: Release of the review of the Australian Curriculum. STEVE AUSTIN: But I spoke with the Federal Education Minister, Christopher Pyne, this morning, and I asked him exactly what he wanted. [Plays excerpt of earlier interview] CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        To improve the outcomes for students in Australia, and particularly against competitors from Asia. Because Australian students these days, they're not just competing within Australia, they have to compete internationally. And this curriculum review will give us the chance to improve the outcomes for young Australians in terms of their school studies. STEVE AUSTIN:       And how do you regard the review, that's Kevin Donnelly and Ken Wiltshire from Queensland here, how do you regard the review that they've prepared and delivered to you? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        I think it's very common sense. It's a back-to-basics approach. It says that we need to de-clutter the primary school curriculum, focus on the basics - English, history, maths and science - and in a way that we know will be effective; so for example in terms of literacy, focusing on a phonics-based education curriculum. And it also says what we - most people know to be true, and that's why it's been well received, that the curriculum should guide the themes, whether they're indigenous Australia, Australia's place in Asia, or sustainability, rather than trying to squeeze the content into the themes, rather than putting it around the other way. And I think this has been a very important development in the national curriculum, it's the first big review of the national curriculum, and I want to work very cooperatively with the states and territories to bring about improvement. STEVE AUSTIN:       Reading through the recommendations of the Donnelly-Wiltshire review, it looks as if there is an attempt to be more practical, or more outcomes-driven, rather than theoretical. Can you clarify that for me please? CHRISTOPHER PYNE:        Well that's true, and the review is about a more practical outcome for students, particularly in primary school. One of the criticisms of the education of Australian students is that they do emerge - some students - do emerge without the practical basics they need for the rest of their lives around literacy and around numeracy, an understanding of history and where we've come from, including our indigenous Australian Aboriginal history. And I think this does say we can rebalance the curriculum without starting again, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater, which is unnecessary, we can actually rebalance the curriculum in a way that brings out the best outcomes for students. [End of excerpt] STEVE AUSTIN: That's Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne. [ends]