Experts Call For Compulsory Civics Lessons In NSW Schools

Experts are calling for the introduction of mandatory civics and citizenship lessons in schools, with the most recent of testing in 2019 showing students’ knowledge of the subject is dropping.

While the NSW government attempts to tackle fracturing social cohesion and increased racial tension with new hate speech laws, it has failed to include mandated civics content in high school education, leaving graduates without any knowledge of the Australian legal or democratic system.

A joint standing committee on electoral matters report is calling for mandated civics education for all Australian students, including those in years 11 and 12. It says students in years 9 and 10 should be studying the subject for a minimum of 10 hours a year.

The government announced last year that compulsory lessons on democracy and the legal system would be compulsory from 2027, but one of Australia’s leaders of civics education, Murray Print, says changes need to be introduced sooner.

“Students have substantial knowledge gaps,” he said. “This raises serious concerns about our shared values and the future of our democracy.”

“The rise in antisemitism points to a decline in social cohesion and the role this plays in a well-functioning democracy.”

Currently, students will only learn anything about Australian democracy if they elect commerce in year 9.

A separate overhaul of the state’s high school history syllabus has made Holocaust education mandatory for the first time from 2027.

Teachers need to be on board

The committee’s report included a submission from a Victorian Education Department, that said students “frequently confuse the notion of prime minister and president”.

Another, from a NSW public school, said students make “no attempt to check the reliability of information”.

“Many young people leave school without the knowledge necessary to actively participate in Australian democracy, engage with civic practices and institutions,” the report said.

The latest national testing for civics and citizenship, which measures students’ understanding of Australia’s government, national social values, rights and legal obligations, showed 40 per cent of year 10 students in the state achieved the proficient standard in 2019, a drop 2010’s from 61 per cent.

The role of social media in news and information distribution is rapidly increasing, with the report flagging the proliferation of false narratives and misinformation.

“Young people are getting news from social media, there is the spread of misinformation and drop in democratic participation,” said Print. “The government knows this is an issue,”

Rule of Law Education Centre chief executive Sally Layson is advocating for teachers to be trained in civics education while undertaking their teaching degree.

Layson said the NSW Education Standards Authority should work with universities to develop civics teacher education programs “as soon as possible until there can be dedicated units in teaching degrees.

“We have a looming crisis, and it needs to be a priority.”

A NESA spokesperson said new civics content is embedded in both mandatory and elective syllabuses, and outlines “explicitly the knowledge and skills students need.”

“It aims to empower students to be informed and active participants in local, national and global communities, equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate diverse perspectives and contribute positively to a more just world.”

“Schools must teach the new mandatory syllabuses by 2027 but can choose to implement them earlier.”