10 DENILIQUIN PASTORAL TIMES
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2024
The reform will look at how mathematics and English is taught in early years of primary school.
NSW curriculum reform
Proud to belong Public Education Week, previously known just as Education Week, is a statewide annual event held by the NSW Department of Education to celebrate NSW public education. It is held the third week of Term 3 each year. Public Education Week celebrates the achievements of local schools, their students, teachers and the value of public education to communities across NSW. During Public Education Week, schools are encouraged to organise their own events and
celebrations, inviting parents, carers and community participation. Each year a theme is selected to help guide celebrations and key messages, which this year is ‘Proud to belong’. Public Education Week is a time for everyone involved in education to feel “proud to belong”, sharing pride in being part of NSW public education and the achievements of students and staff alike. Learn more about some of the schools in our area in this handy 9-page feature.
Celebrating
NSW is delivering a new curriculum for Kindergarten to Year 12. It is the first comprehensive reform of the NSW school curriculum in three decades. The reform follows a comprehensive review of the NSW curriculum that took place from 2018 to 2020. Professor Geoff Masters, who led the review, is the CEO and a member of the Board of the Australian Council for Educational Research. The NSW Curriculum Reform aims to strengthen and streamline what is taught in schools. It is an opportunity to engage and re-energise what is taught, and how. It focuses on making clear what is essential in the curriculum to give more time for deep learning, establish stronger foundations in English and mathematics, and provide stronger links between HSC subjects and career pathways. Reform priorities and recommendations The reform recommendations are shaping the new syllabuses.
Priorities identified for the early, middle, and later years of schooling are to: • Build strong foundations for future learning – new English and mathematics syllabuses for Kindergarten to Year 2. • Provide more time for teaching – reducing the hours teachers spend on extracurricular topics and issues, and compliance requirements. • Strengthen post-school pathways – new learning areas for Years 11 and 12 that clearly link learning to future employment and study options. • Develop a new curriculum – new syllabuses focused on what is essential to know and do in the early and middle years of schooling, and key learning areas in the senior years. Education staff continue to work through consultation of draft syllabuses, which will be implemented incrementally between now and 2027. For more information and to discover the new syllabuses, go to www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa and follow the links.
Celebrate excellence in Aboriginal education
in 2024
Is now taking enrolments every week day throughout August for 2025 for 3-5 year olds.
Gulpa Pre-School is a community based not-for-profit pre-school. Children must turn 3 before the end of January 2025. Positions available: 2 day Mon/Wed (7.5hr days) or Tues/ Thurs (7.5 hr days); Single day Friday (6.5 hr day)
Enrolments open Thursday 1st August and close Friday 30th August at 4pm. Enrolment applications need to be collected from Gulpa Pre-School. Completed enrolment applications need to be handed to a member of staff.
Enquiries can be directed to Angela Bould 5881 4859 on Mondays. NB: Immunisation History Statement, Birth Certificate and Health Care Card will be required once enrolled. Enrolments are processed in accordance to the Gulpa Pre-School enrolment policy considering NSW Dept of Ed Priority of Access guidelines.
Nominations are now open for 19th Nanga Mai Awards which celebrate and recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in Aboriginal education in NSW public schools. Awards will be presented to outstanding Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers, other departmental staff, community members and NSW public schools. Educators, students, and community members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals and initiatives that have made significant contributions to Aboriginal education and cultural awareness.
The 2024 award categories include: • Student awards • Staff awards • School/community awards Nominations are presented to regional and state panels for consideration. Nominations can be submitted online until Friday, August 16. Go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/ teaching-and-learning/aec and follow the links. If you have any questions or queries relating to the awards, contact the Nanga Mai awards coordination team at nangamai@det.nsw. edu.au.
Empowering all ages Public Education Week is not only an opportunity to celebrate how our young people are being taught, but learning opportunities for adults too. Skills NSW provides access to course and training information, advice and guidance for NSW residents at any stage of their career to ensure that individuals are empowered. On its website, you can browse training courses by industry and also learn more about fee-free training and courses. NSW Fee Free July to December 2024 improves access to training for young people, jobseekers, First Nations People, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional trades and certain categories of visa holders. It does this by offering courses that support
priority industries and priority courses at TAFE NSW and other ‘Smart and Skilled’ contracted training providers, including Adult and Community Education providers. People who meet ‘Smart and Skilled’ eligibility criteria and are undertaking a NSW Fee Free priority course may be eligible for a fee free place. The eligibility criteria include being 15 years-old or older and no longer at school. You must also be living or working in NSW, and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder, or New Zealand citizen. ▯ For more information about this program or others available to school-leavers and adults, go to https://skills.education.nsw. gov.au.