A Riverina-based representative of the NSW Teachers Federation has welcomed the state government's announced review into the school curriculum but has warned that the focus may hinder success.
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Announced earlier this week by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell, the review has been touted as the largest shakeup in over a generation.
Ms Berejiklian said the government would support a "back to basics approach", that would emphasise success in English, science and maths.
John Pratt, the NSW Teachers Federation organiser for the Riverina, responded by suggesting that approach may miss its mark.
"I think we have to be a little bit careful," Mr Pratt told The Daily Advertiser.
"The HSC is currently regarded as one of the highest in the world to finish school with, so we have to be careful if we're talking about changing that."
The government's review is expected to be conducted and implemented over the next 30 years, which is a timeframe that Mr Pratt is hugely in favour of.
"We welcome the fact that changes will take place over a consistent time that won't affect current students," he said.
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Specific changes are yet to be discussed, but on Thursday, the Premier announced the government's intentions to make mathematics compulsory for all students from kindergarten to year 12.
"My vision is for every child in NSW to have the necessary maths skills to succeed in life, whether that's managing home budgets or preparing them for the jobs of the future in science, technology and engineering," Premier Berejiklian said.
But in terms of what additional changes might mean for the education sector, Mr Pratt said it was still too early to tell.
"I don't think anyone at this point can say what the perfect curriculum would look like," he said.
"You won't get to teachers in a room who would agree entirely on what should and shouldn't be in the curriculum."
Mr Pratt said he would welcome the de-cluttering of the school syllabus in both primary and high schools, but believes the focus of the education system has never strayed from the basics.
"People start to think that because there's so much in the curriculum that literacy and numeracy have taken a backseat," he said.
"We talk about returning the focus, but there's never been a time when literacy and numeracy were not the focus of an education."
Nevertheless, Mr Pratt did advocate for the curriculum to be paired back substantially, especially with regards to the primary school system.
"The primary curriculum is too cluttered, and teachers have increasingly been picking up the slack on things that have traditionally been [the domain] of the family," he said.
"Anything from pedestrian safety to health and wellbeing is now falling into the lap of teachers."
Particularly with reference to high school education, Mr Pratt said it would be detrimental to be altering too much and potentially jeopardising the state's generations of proven success.
"If things are working well, don't change it," he said.
"Our society clearly shows that something successful is happening in our schools. We're producing high-quality students that are ready to fill our society with the skills we need.
"Any review should be there to build on what is already working in our schools."
For this reason, Mr Pratt is hopeful the government will implement community consultation during the length of the review process.
"Whatever review takes place, it should be done in complete consultation with teachers," he said.