Science And Maths Teachers In NSW Express Serious Concerns Over New HSC Syllabuses

NSW science and maths teachers are pushing for the new HSC syllabuses to be rewritten, saying in their current form they are "confusing" and contain "serious blunders".

The ABC reports the new syllabuses are due to be finalised by the end of the year. Students who are entering Year 11 in 2018 will be the first cohort to encounter these new syllabuses.

This news comes just weeks before the revised syllabuses were due to be finalised. According the the Science Teachers Association of New South Wales (STANSW), the consultation period given to teachers to provide feedback on the draft syllabuses was "inadequate".

"Draft syllabuses will not meet the interests and/or needs of the diversity of students that currently study at least one science course in their preliminary and/or HSC subject selection," STANSW said in a statement.

Teachers were concerned that an increased breadth of content coupled with a higher level of demand would mean science in Years 11 and 12 would only be suitable for the "academically elite".

Speaking to the ABC, one chemistry teacher said she was completely flabbergasted that the draft presented was the result of many months of work. In regards to the chemistry syllabus, she said it appeared to be "all over the place," and "hastily cobbled together".

At this point in time, the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES) has said it will take feedback into account.

However, Paul Hewitt—executive direct of curriculum, teaching and assessment at BOSTES—said, "I don't accept that there is a need for a total reworking."

They have rejected calls for a further consultation period before the draft syllabuses will be put forward.

BOSTES said it's confident that taking teacher's advice on board, "significant work" will be done on all syllabuses.

"We are confident that the final syllabuses will satisfy both the Maths and Science teaching profession," Hewitt said.

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