Leading 21st Century Schools: Why Asia in schools?
Engaging young Australians with Asia: where are we at?
'If Asia literacy is to be achieved for every young Australian by 2020 it is clear that we need to scale up action in our schools', said Kathe Kirby, Executive Director, Asia Education Foundation.
Kathe Kirby vodcast (24 MB .mov file)
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education in her speech at the launch of the Leading 21st Century Schools project said, 'It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.'
The Hon Julia Gillard vodcast (43 MB .mov file)
Australia's Asia Literacy Alliance
24 peak national organisations developed the Call to Action: Asia literacy for every young Australian seeking to increase the number of students studying Asian languages and embed studies of Asia as core elements in English, history and geography.
Call to Action: Asia literacy for every young Australian (PDF 90 KB)
Why parent support?
Jenny Branch, President, Australian Council of State School Organisations:
"Parents play the most significant role in subject choice. We can't get kids in the right mindset if we can't truly engage the parents. Australia has just woken up to the fact we live in an Asian region. Our future, our economy revolves around Asia and the global economy. We cannot live isolated from the region beside us. One of our biggest responsibilities is our connection with Asia."
Parent Organisation quotes
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Judith Bundy, Vice President, Australian Council of State Schools Organisations:
'Students will be left behind compared to students who are Asia literate. Every school student should have the same educational opportunities. There is a dire need for a change in the whole community. The education community understands but Australian society needs to recognise the importance of Asia and the need to build good, long-term relationships.
We need to better involve the Asian parent community in our schools; involve them in the decision making for curriculum and working with kids in the classroom.'
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Ian Dalton, Executive Director, Australian Parents Council:
'One of the main challenges is how to get parents to take part. Getting kids to change requires parents to change. Parents are a resource we can tap into and we need to do it in a way that will promote continuity. The majority of people see there is a necessity and that won’t take a lot to consolidate but parents also see a crowded curriculum. Parents know it is a critical issue – they are getting that from the media – but it is distant for many in regional and remote Australia. Parents in urban schools do not need as much convincing.'
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Jenny Branch, President, Australian Council of State School Organisations:
'Parents play the most significant role in subject choice. We can't get kids in the right mindset if we can't truly engage the parents. Australia has just woken up to the fact we live in an Asian region. Our future, our economy revolves around Asia and the global economy. We cannot live isolated from the region beside us. One of our biggest responsibilities is our connection with Asia.'
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A study commissioned by the Asia Education Foundation (AEF) in partnership with the Australian Council of State School Organizations (ACSSO) and the Australian Parents Council (APC), January 2006 found that most parents strongly support the teaching of studies of Asia in their children's school.
The full report (PDF: 200 KB).
The Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) website
Australian Parents Council (APC) website
Global Citizens in Action
Young professionals speak with AEF National Forum Leader, Tony Mackay, about their global careers. 'We are a global society now and that has to be capitalised on.'
Rachel Wilson, Deputy Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Sydney
Imran Lum, Research Assistant, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Islam
Jennifer Purcell, Student, Macquarie University and Goldman Sachs Global Leader 2007
Global Citizens vodcast (88 MB .mov file)
2020 Schools Summit
Australia's future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world
School Summit quotes
Schools Summit website
National Statement for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in Australian Schools
The National Statement (PDF: 1.4 MB) provides a rationale and outlines the elements for embedding and supporting a system-wide approach to engaging young Australians with Asia in Australian schools.
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