Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said today that he would be writing to the NSW Board of Studies requesting them to investigate a range of options to strengthen the study of Australian literature in the State’s English curriculum.

Mr Della Bosca said the measures would look at how to ensure high quality Australian texts were being studied consistently across all NSW schools.

“Australian literature is important in providing students with a sense of identity, insight into our diverse culture, historical contexts and our unique place in the world,” the Minister said.

“But particularly in the primary school setting, the syllabus may need to be more prescriptive to make sure all students are reading Australian authors.

“Currently, the English syllabus states that ‘teachers will provide opportunities for students to develop a broad knowledge of a range of literature including Australian literature’.

“Teachers can refer to the English K-6 Recommended Children’s Texts for examples of suitable quality literature but across the system some students may be learning more about Australian literature than others.

“Also, I want to look at the viability of offering a high level course in Australian literature in secondary schools,” Mr Della Bosca said.

The Board of Studies will be asked to consider the following options:

• The development of an in-depth, high level course in Australian literature to be offered as one of the existing HSC Distinction courses currently developed and delivered by universities in NSW.
• To consider the structure and content of the existing Extension 1 and Extension 2 English courses in secondary schools to introduce a significant component of Australian literature.
• To strengthen the study of Australian literary texts in Stages 4 and 5 (Years 7-10) by providing a resource list of suitable texts. Students would be required to study a set number of these texts in each of these four years. Alternatively, students would be required to study a set number of texts at any time during this four year period.
• Providing additional support to K-6 teachers through an extensive, refreshed recommended reading list of Australian texts.

“As part of this process, I will be requesting that the Board consult with relevant parent and teacher stake-holder groups and provide me with recommendations next year,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“Australian literature does feature strongly across our primary and secondary school curriculum, but I believe more needs to be done to ensure all our students benefit from our home-grown authors,” the Minister said.

For example, Australian authors, playwrights and poets on the English K-6 Recommended Children’s Texts list include:

• Alan Baillie – Little Brother
• Graeme Base – Animalia
• Mem Fox – Feathers and Fools
• Libby Hathorn – Thunderwith
• May Gibbs – Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
• Oodgeroo Noonucal (Kath Walker) – Father Sky and Mother Earth
• Ruth Park – When the Wind Changed
• Colin Thiele – Blue Fin
• Nadia Wheatley – Five Times Dizzy
• Patricia Wrightson – The Nargun and the Stars

“Australian literature also features strongly on the HSC English Prescriptions list which is the focus of English study in the final year of schooling in NSW for all students. Selected texts are studied in depth,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“On the new 2009-2012 HSC Prescriptions list, of the 101 print medium texts listed, 33 are Australian and students may study Australian novels, poetry, drama and non fiction works,” he said.

Internationally renowned Australian writers whose works are listed include

• Peter Carey – multiple winner the Booker Prize (The True History of the Kelly Gang)
• David Malouf – The Age Book of the Year Award 1982, 1991 winner of the Miles Franklin Award (Fly Away Peter)
• Patrick White – Nobel Prize for Literature 1973 (The Aunt’s Story)
• Tim Winton – 2 times Booker Prize winner (Cloudstreet)

“I look forward to receiving the Board’s recommendations and further strengthening our world-class NSW curriculum,” Mr Della Bosca added.