The Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) today released the new Kindergarten–Year 10 Geography syllabus.

Geography is a valuable part of the mandatory NSW curriculum. In the new syllabus, emphasis is placed on important concepts of contemporary geographical learning, such as change, environment and interconnection, and key skills in investigating and responding to real-life challenges.

In Geography students learn how the environment functions, how it affects people, and the ways people interact with the environment. They develop an understanding of their community and how it is connected to the wider world, engage in fieldwork and use spatial technologies to explore community and environmental concerns, and consider how they can make a difference.

As students progress from Kindergarten to Year 10, Geography provides them with exciting opportunities to investigate real-world issues and events and explore their complexity including different points of view.

With the broad knowledge and skills that students learn through Geography, students are well prepared for a range of university degrees and the decisions they will make in their own lives.

Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said the new Geography syllabus can be taught in NSW schools from 2016 through a phased implementation schedule.

“Geography joins the recently released K–10 English, Mathematics, Science and History syllabuses, and demonstrates ongoing work in NSW to ensure our students benefit from learning that is both interesting and relevant.

President of BOSTES, Tom Alegounarias thanked the many teachers, experts and community members who contributed to the development of the Geography syllabus.

“Their comments and insights are vital to our syllabus development process which maintains the high standards of NSW syllabuses,” Mr Alegounarias said.

When BOSTES develops a syllabus it conducts extensive consultation with teachers, parents, education sectors, academics, and the wider community.

This ensures that any new syllabus provides opportunities to cater for the needs, interests and abilities of all students while laying the foundations to support HSC and tertiary studies.

MEDIA:  Michael Charlton 0477 362 546