Higher Education Base Funding Review. Supplementary Submission: The Music Education of Primary School Teachers by University Faculties of Education

Submission to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

One of the issues raised by the Review is that of equity of access. The issue of equity of access to a tertiary music education begins in the preschool years and is especially problematical in primary school. Primary schools serving the affluent are likely to have effective music programs and other primary schools are not. There is great inequity and this makes it much less likely that students from low SES background will pass university entrance criteria in music.

One reason that primary schools do not have effective music programs is that the classroom teachers are given only a token music education in study for their qualifying degrees. The decisions about provision of music education instruction appear to be in the hands of the universities. The submission argues that they must provide adequate music education and should be funded to do so.

Prepared by Dr Richard Letts AM, Executive Director, with Professor Gary McPherson, Ormond Chair of Music and Director, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.

Read the supplement to the submission