SYDNEY, Australia (JTA) — The Holocaust for the first time will be included in the national education curriculum in Australia.
Jewish leaders welcomed the move, announced last week by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, with some reservations.
“One difficulty is that study of the Holocaust is limited to the years 1942-1945,” said Peter Wertheim, the executive director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. “This is inaccurate and omits the Nazi program of mass shootings and other atrocities between 1939 and 1941 in which 1.5 million Jews were systematically put to death.”
He added that his council will consult with the day schools and educators before responding formally to the government.
Schools in New South Wales have previously taught the Holocaust in English and history.
