YOUR SAY: Homework has ‘no academic benefits’ for primary school students, says new report

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has found that homework has almost no academic benefit for primary school students.

The report by the state’s Education and Training Committee suggested that students’ time could be better spent on other activities and interests, citing agreement among education experts.

Aside from improving discipline and training students for high school, homework tasks had little impact on academic performance, the eight-month study found.

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Australian Catholic University’s Mary Campbell, who runs homework support clubs for disadvantaged and minority background students, said that tasks had to be structured appropriately to best foster student learning.

“Any opportunity to engage in meaningful learning is a positive one,” she told TODAY.

“Homework and learning is more than just a school responsibility, it’s a community response.

“When we get together in partnership with others, it can become really meaningful.”

The committee has recommended a review of homework guidelines and offered to advise schools on the findings.