“That ICPA Qld lobbies the Department of Education (DoE) to revise the recommendation of 90 minutes per week for language learning for Years 5 and 6 students enrolled in distance education, ensuring it becomes an optional subject rather than a mandatory requirement, allowing families to prioritise core literacy and numeracy skills.”
The Department of Education states:
"The Australian Curriculum emphasizes the importance of language learning, and the new version includes a recommendation for 90 minutes of language lessons per week for Years 5 and 6."
While language learning is valuable, its implementation for distance education students must be reconsidered. Students in Years 5 and 6 already spend between three and five hours per day on live, on-air lessons, plus additional independent coursework. Adding another 90 minutes per week risks overloading students, affecting their concentration and overall learning effectiveness.
For students in rural and remote areas, where distance education is their only option, the focus should remain on delivering high-quality English and mathematics lessons to strengthen literacy and numeracy skills—critical foundations for academic success.
ICPA QLD must advocate for language learning to be an optional subject for distance education students rather than a mandated requirement, giving families the flexibility to make the best educational choices for their children.
