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Asia literacy in your school
To what extent does your school include Asia literacy?
We know that most parents strongly support the Asia literacy in their children’s school.
Yet fewer than half of Australian schools integrate Asia literacy in any substantial way. Twenty-five per cent of schools don't teach anything about Asia at all.
For our young people to build an informed understanding of Asia, we must move beyond kites and exotic food festivals. Students need well-structured content that recognises the diversity of cultures in the Asian region.
The two national parent groups, the Australian Council of State School Organisations and the Australian Parents Council, along with the Asia Education Foundation, want to improve this situation.
You can help by taking up the issue in your school community. You can talk to teachers, school administrators, other parents.
Questions and concerns you might like answers to include:
- What is meant by Asia literacy?
- What sorts of things should our young people know about Asia?
- Why should it be integrated in school curriculums?
- Who says it should be included?
- We don’t have suitable resources or support
- And isn’t the curriculum overcrowded already?
- How can I make changes at my school?
Important resources
Dr Margaret Byrne, Principal Consultant, UGM Consulting
"People are not simply a resource, or a cost, they are actually an asset. It is people in the knowledge economy that will drive the value chain."
