Terms of Reference

Reference

The motion to refer this inquiry to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations committee was moved in the Senate on 24 June 2008. The committee was requested to report by 11 November 2008 (later extended to 27 November), into the current level of academic freedom in school and higher education, with particular reference to:

1. the level of intellectual diversity and the impact of ideological, political and cultural prejudice in the teaching of senior secondary education and of courses at Australian universities, including but not limited to:

   1. the content of curricula;

   2. the content of course materials;

   3. the conduct of teaching professionals; and

   4. the conduct of student assessments.

2. the need for the teaching of senior secondary and university courses to reflect a plurality of views, be accurate, fair, balanced and in context; and

3. ways in which intellectual diversity and contestability of ideas may be promoted and protected, including the concept of a charter of academic freedoms.

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