Chronologies of Secondary School Curriculum Policy: Federal

1996 – 2005

2005

  • Statements of Learning for English were endorsed by MCEETYA and published by the Curriculum Corporation.

2004

  • The Schools Assistance (Learning Together–Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004 was introduced. The Act required schools and school authorities to make a commitment to participate in a wide range of nationally driven initiatives.
  • The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education prepared the report Learning to Work: Report on the Inquiry into Vocational Education in Schools. Details

2003

  • The proposal to develop statements of learning for the four curriculum domains for mathematics, science, civics and English was accepted at the MCEETYA meeting in July. The statements built on a previous ‘curriculum mapping exercise' which identified areas of overlap and difference in the official curricula of the States.
  • MCEETYA published the research report Curriculum Provision in the Australian States and Territories which reviewed the consistency of curriculum provision across the country.

2001

  • The Australian Council of Deans of Education published the report New Learning: A Charter for Australian Education.

2000

  • HREOC published Recommendations: National inquiry into rural and remote education (Details) and School Communities: National inquiry into rural and remote education. Details
  • The Department of Education Science and Training published Learning for the Knowledge Society: An Education and Training Plan for the Information Economy. Details

1999

  • The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the 21st Century was released following a meeting between State, Territory and Commonwealth Ministers of Education in April.

1998

  • MCEETYA released a Discussion paper which reviewed The Hobart Declaration (1989) and provided a set of new draft goals for public discussion and comment.

1997

  • The Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs published the report Discovering Democracy: Civics and Citizenship Education.

1996

  • The report Language Teachers: The Pivot of Policy was published by the Australian Language and Literacy Council. The report argued that Australian education systems and policies were failing to deliver any worthwhile proficiency in languages.

1986 – 1995

1995

  • The National Review of Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Final Report was published by the Department of Education Employment and Training.

1994

  • The Schools Council published the discussion paper The Role of Schools in the Vocational Preparation of Australia's Senior Secondary Students. Details

1993

  • National Profiles and Statements for the agreed learning areas were finalised but their compulsory adoption was rejected by all states in July.
  • The Australian Education Council (AEC), the Council of Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training (MOVEET) and the Youth Ministers Council (YMC) were amalgamated to form the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA).
  • The Schools Council published Pathways for Post-Compulsory Students.
  • The Department of Employment, Education and Training published Retention and Participation in Australian Schools 1967-1992. Details

1992

  • The Australian Education Council published the report Key Competencies: Report of the Committee to advise the Australian Education Council and Ministers of Vocational Education, Employment and Training on Employment-related Key Competencies for Postcompulsory Education and Training (Mayer report). Details
  • The National Board of Employment, Education and Training published the report Curriculum Initiatives.

1991

  • The Australian Education Council organised the proposed national curriculum into eight Learning Areas (English, mathematics, science, studies of society and the environment, LOTE, the arts, technology, health) and work commenced on describing these in terms of Statements and Profiles.
  • The Australian Education Council published the report Young People's Participation in Post-compulsory Education and Training: Report of the Australian Education Council Review Committee (Finn Review) which recommended the development of a set of employment-related ‘key competencies' for effective work participation. Details

1990

  • The Curriculum Corporation was established to facilitate activities in curriculum development, publish materials and provide curriculum information.
  • The Ministerial Council of Vocational Education, Employment and Training (MOVEET) was established.
  • The first National Report on Australian Schooling was published by the Australian Education Council.

1989

  • The Hobart Declaration on Schooling was released by the Australian Education Council. The Declaration set out an agreement on ten national goals for schooling and announced an intention to establish a national curriculum agency, commence a process of national collaborative curriculum development and introduce an annual national report on schooling.
  • The Curriculum Corporation was established through the merging of the Curriculum Development Corporation and the Australian Schools Cataloguing Information Service.
  • The Curriculum Development Centre published the report The Challenge of Retention: A study of retention in 35 schools.
  • The Department of Employment, Education and Training published the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy.

1988

  • The Curriculum Development Centre published Schooling in Rural Australia.
  • The report Strengthening Australia's Schools: A Consideration of the Focus and Content of Schooling was published. This report invited the cooperation of the States and Territories in developing and implementing a national effort to strengthen Australia's schools.

1987

  • The Schools Commission published In the National Interest: Secondary Education and Youth Policy in Australia. The report emphasized the importance of a continuing core curriculum but also highlighted the need for curriculum that would equip students with practical skills for the workplace.
  • The Schools Commission published the report National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools which outlined the first national policy for Australian schooling.
  • The National Policy on Languages was published.
  • The Commonwealth Schools Commission was abolished.

1976 – 1985

1985

  • The report Quality of Education in Australia: Report of the Review Committee (Karmel Report) was published. Details
  • The Commonwealth Schools Commission published Quality and Equity: Commonwealth Specific Purposes for Australian Schools.
  • The Curriculum Development Centre published McGaw and Hannan's report Certification in Upper Secondary Education.

1984

  • The Commonwealth Schools Commission published the reports Commonwealth Standards for Australian Schools and The English as a Second Language (ESL) Factors and Index Study: Final Report.
  • The report Girls and Tomorrow: The Challenge for Schools was published by the Schools Commission.
  • The Report on a National Language Policy was published by the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Arts.

1982

  • The Schools Commission developed the Participation and Equity Program (PEP) to increase retention rates.
  • The Educational Research and Development Committee published the report National Assessment in Australia: An Evaluation of the Australian Studies in the Student Performance Program.

1981

  • The Curriculum Development Centre was absorbed into the Commonwealth Department of Education.
  • The Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Arts (Chaired by G.S. Davidson) published its report Preparation for the Workforce.

1980

  • The Schools Commission published, Schooling for 15 and 16 Year Olds, a report which suggested the need for a more ‘adaptive' curriculum to suit the needs of all students.
  • The Curriculum Development Centre published the discussion paper Core Curriculum for Australian Schools which, in addition to learning processes and environments, nominated nine areas of knowledge and experience. Details

1979

  • The Committee of Inquiry into Education and Training (Chaired by B. William) published the report Education, Training and Employment. Details

1978

  • The Report of the Committee to Review Post-arrival Programs and Services for Migrants (Galbally Report) was published.

1976

  • The House of Representatives Select Committee on Specific Learning Difficulties (Chaired by A.G. Cadman) published Learning Difficulties in Children and Adults.

The 1975 Context

1975

  • The Schools Commission published the report Girls, Schools and Society. The report provided the first comprehensive review of the position of girls and schooling in Australia and included recommendations to improve opportunities for girls.

1974

  • The Curriculum Development Centre was established as an independent statutory body.
  • The Australian Committee on Technical and Further education published TAFE in Australia. Report on Needs in Technical and Further Education (Kangan report). Details

1973

  • The Commonwealth Schools Commission was established to advise the Commonwealth Government on education policy.
  • The Schools Commission published the report Schools in Australia (Karmel Report).

1972

  • The Federal Minister was made a full member of the Australian Education Council for the first time.

1960

  • W.R. Dovey's report Progress and Assimilation of Migrant Children in Australia was published by the Commonwealth Immigrant Advisory Council.