Australia warned it will become a ‘nation of cretins’ as education minister slams new curriculum

Australia’s education minister has raised concerns proposed changes to the national curriculum focus too heavily on Indigenous history at the expense of western culture.

Under draft changes, students would learn how European colonisation was experienced by Indigenous people as an invasion, which critics said risked turning Australia into a ‘nation of cretins’.

Education Minister Alan Tudge said it was good to include more emphasis on Indigenous history but expressed concern the draft failed to strike the right balance.

Mr Tudge did acknowledge it is ‘particularly pleasing’ to see mathematics standards lifted in the draft however he slammed a proposal to teach times tables at an older age

‘We should honour our Indigenous history and teach that well,’ the federal education minister told Sky News.

‘But equally that should not come at the expense of dishonouring our western heritage which has made us the liberal democracy we are today.

‘We have to get the balance right and I’m concerned that we haven’t in the draft that’s been put out.’ 

University of Queensland professor Kenneth Wiltshire slammed the proposed changes, and said the body responsible should be abolished.

‘We will create a ­nation of cretins awash in a world where they have no understanding of the history of civilisation, human thought, human philosophy, values, or principles which have produced lessons to be ­acknowledged by all societies,’ he told The Australian.

‘No amount of swiping screens or pushing buttons to pop up unsubstantiated internet entries will compensate for this.’ 

Mr Tudge said a curriculum with more emphasis on Indigenous history would be a ‘positive development’ but warned it shouldn’t come at the expense of teaching shouldn’t come at the expense of teaching ‘classical and Western civilisations and how Australia came to be a free, liberal democracy’.

‘Both are important to a rich understanding of our nation’s history. There is more work to be done on this domain,’ he said. 

Mr Tudge fears language like ‘invasion’ could turn students into activists.

Under draft changes, students would learn how Australia’s British colonisation was experienced by Indigenous people as an invasion

‘Certainly some people from an Indigenous perspective saw things very, very differently to what the white settlers saw it from (sic) and that should be taught as well,’ he said.

Mr Tudge did acknowledge it is ‘particularly pleasing’ to see mathematics standards lifted in the draft however he slammed a proposal to teach times tables at an older age.

‘I am perplexed as to why some basic concepts such as times tables are pushed back from Year 3 to Year 4 as this goes against the general trend,’ he said. 

Education ministers from around the country will discuss the draft at a meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

The proposed changes will be open to public feedback before the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority hands a final draft to ministers later in the year.

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said it was good to include more emphasis on Indigenous history but expressed concern the draft failed to strike the right balance

‘I will be looking for some changes from what I’ve seen so far,’ Mr Tudge said.

A review of the existing curriculum found outdated ideas were in contrast to Indigenous calls for truth-telling history.

It also found there was too much emphasis on Indigenous history before Europeans arrived.

ACARA chief executive David de Carvalho said students should be taught the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

‘It’s important that all Australian students have the ability to discuss these important issues and understand these core concepts,’ he told SBS News.