The meeting is the last formal opportunity this year for education ministers to discuss the final draft curriculum,which requires a consensus to be implemented,unless an additional out-of-session gathering is scheduled. But the path to agreement,particularly over the history content,is unclear,with Labor ministers in Victoria,Queensland,WA,the ACT and the Northern Territory critical of Mr Tudge’s comments.
Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said Mr Tudge’s remarks were aimed at “inciting culture wars”,adding Victoria would advocate for a curriculum “that will produce the thoughtful and proud Australians of the future”.
“We have long called for Australia’s Indigenous heritage to be firmly embedded in our curriculum – not at the expense of other important aspects of the Australian story,but as part of a balanced,diverse history offering that covers both the inspiring and challenging parts of our nation’s history,” Mr Merlino said.
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WA Education Minister Sue Ellery said it was important students learned different perspectives on the past as well as the skills to form their own judgments.
“I don’t think going again to the fake so-called history wars has added anything to the review as history is always judged by the perspective of who is looking at it,” she said.
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said it had been unhelpful for Mr Tudge to comment on the review before it had been completed.