Title: Views of Members of the Executives of the Australian Council of State School Organisations ACSSO and
1Views of Members of the Executives of the
Australian Council of State School Organisations
(ACSSO) and Australian Parents Council (APC) on
Studies of Asia in Australian Schools
- Presentation to the National Forum, Engaging
Young Australians with Asia, April 4, 2006
2Context of this study
- A partnership between the AEF, ACSSO and APC
- Sample 137 members of the executives of ACSSO
and APC (46 response rate)
3Selected Findings
- Importance of relationships with Asia
- Involvement of parents in schools
- Views about studies of Asia in schools
4Importance
88 believe that the government should have a
long term strategic plan to implement policy
initiatives to engage Australia and Australians
with Asia.
5Importance
75 agreed with the proposition that good
relationships with the countries of Asia would
assist in maintaining Australias long term
security
692 acknowledged the importance ofthe business
and economic ties linking Australia and Asia.
Importance
791 believed that an important skills for all
Australians to possess is an ability to
communicate across cultures
Importance
80 agreed that every Australian school student
should have an opportunity to learn an Asian
language at some time60 would like their child
to study an Asian language
8Views about Australian society
80 believed that people from Asia have played a
significant role in shaping modern
Australia But 85 felt that many Australians did
not understand the peoples and cultures of Asia
9Role of parents
Only 50 agreed that they were routinely
involved in general discussions about
curriculum
10Role of parents
Only 15 agreed that their childs school has
involved parents in specific discussions about
studies of Asia in the curriculum
11Role of parents
Only 10 preferred to leave curriculum
decisions to the teaching staff of the school
12Views about studies of Asia
67 agreed that there should be a nationally
agreed policy on connecting Australian school
students with Asia
13Views about studies of Asia
50 indicated that they would find it difficult
to assign a priority to studies of Asia when
there are so many areas fighting for a place in a
crowded school curriculum
14Views about studies of Asia
60 agreed that parent organisations could assist
in promoting the incorporation of studies of Asia
as a curriculum priority
50 agreed that studies of Asia should have a
higher priority in Australian schools
15Views about studies of Asia
- . has a very limited Asian population,
therefore people don't see the need for education
in this area, particularly in the light of the
extremely crowded curriculum.
16Recommendations
- Form an alliance
- Develop a communication strategy
- Consider some targeted research
- Bring parents into the curriculum tent
- Involve Asian parents
- Participate in parent meetings and conferences
17Recommendations (contd)
- Involve parents in AEF activities
- Use existing publications
- Utilise advocacy role of parent organisations
- Develop policy
18Finally, a quote from a parent
- Important for complete education
- Broadens minds to different philosophy, ways of
thinking - Provides more choice and value to students in
their careers - Adds to the on-going maturity of Australia as a
nation