The National Catholic Education Commission has welcomed federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s announcement that the Albanese Government will create a new national agency to improve coordination across Australia’s education system.
Mr Clare yesterday announced a new “Teaching and Learning Commission” that would merge four national education agencies and would represent a new level of federal involvement in state-run education systems, ABC News reported.
The NCEC said a more coherent national approach to integrating curriculum, assessment, evidence and innovation has the potential to benefit the entire education system.
This would strengthen the focus on evidence-based teaching and increase the availability of high-quality classroom resources including consideration of artificial intelligence and educational technology standards, and quality professional development.
“The overarching purpose of a national architecture must be to advance the learning outcome for Australian students through the enhancement of practices and structures, building on the capabilities of teachers and staff of the schools,” NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins said.
“Excellence and equity should be the hallmark of the Australian education system, supported by the national architecture” she said.
Ms Collins said the NCEC is encouraged by Mr Clare’s commitment to “maintain and protect the critical work” of existing national bodies while improving coordination and maximising impact.
“Catholic education is perfectly placed to contribute to discussion of a more integrated approach to the national architecture, building on effective partnerships across educational bodies and ensuring the voice of both teachers and students is present in the structures designed to support them.
“As the workload of our teachers and the contemporary needs of our students become more demanding, it is imperative that we ensure a fit-for-purpose approach to the teaching and learning architecture, which advances the opportunities for all students and teachers.”
FULL STORY
Catholic Education welcomes greater coherence across national architecture (NCEC)
