For more than a decade, Victorian schools have embraced progressive teaching models, hoping that student-led learning would foster creativity, engagement and independent thinking. In theory, these approaches had real merit. As someone with a Master’s in Applied Learning and Teaching, I understand the intentions behind these methods: they aim to empower students and cultivate critical thinking.
But intentions don’t guarantee success. On the ground, teachers quickly realised that without proper structure and guidance, many students floundered. The Victorian government’s announcement that systematic synthetic phonics and explicit teaching will form the foundation of early literacy from 2025, is a necessary step in restoring what works.
This shift isn’t just about early literacy. Once the benefits become clear — and they will — explicit instruction will likely become central to learning across all subjects and age groups. The evidence speaks for itself: explicit teaching works.
The Theory Was Sound, But the Reality Fell Short
At its core, inquiry-based learning encourages students to explore and discover on their own. The goal was to create engaged learners who develop lifelong skills. Unfortunately, in practice, these methods overburdened both teachers and students. Here’s what went wrong:
- Teachers were overwhelmed:
Progressive models required teachers to facilitate multiple learning pathways simultaneously. This juggling act — combined with the lack of clear instructional frameworks — led to burnout as teachers struggled to manage chaotic classrooms. If you’re one of the many teachers feeling the burn at this time of year, these tips may be helpful for you. - Many students got left behind:
While high achievers thrived, students with learning difficulties, behavioural challenges or from disadvantaged backgrounds often fell through the cracks. Without structured teaching, these students missed the building blocks they needed to develop confidence and competence. - Cognitive overload:
Cognitive load theory tells us that working memory has limited capacity. When students are left to discover too much on their own, they overload mentally and learning breaks down. Explicit teaching eases this burden by guiding students step-by-step, allowing new knowledge to stick.
What the Evidence Says: Why Explicit Teaching Works
The return to explicit teaching isn’t just a shift in policy — it’s a shift back to evidence-based practices that have consistently proven to work. Research shows that systematic synthetic phonics, a key component of this reform, improves literacy outcomes for all students, particularly those who struggle the most.
- NSW and the UK have already adopted explicit, structured literacy models with positive outcomes, demonstrating the effectiveness of direct instruction in fostering reading proficiency and engagement.
- A review of 68 studies on explicit instruction found that it improves not only short-term knowledge retention but also long-term problem-solving abilities.
These findings are clear: students need explicit, systematic instruction to master the basics before they can progress to more complex, inquiry-based learning.
What This Shift Means for Teachers
For many teachers, this policy change will feel like a relief — a chance to finally do what we do best: teach. Explicit instruction brings clarity and focus back into the classroom, reducing the emotional labor teachers have been forced to carry in recent years.
- Less stress, more focus:
With explicit teaching frameworks, teachers can focus on delivering content effectively rather than managing chaotic learning environments. - Improved student engagement:
When students experience early success through structured instruction, they stay motivated and engaged — no gimmicks required. Success breeds confidence, which in turn makes teaching more rewarding. - Reduced burnout:
Explicit instruction provides a more manageable workload for teachers, as it offers clearer lesson plans and more predictable outcomes. This shift reduces mental strain and emotional exhaustion.
Beyond Literacy: A Movement Across the Curriculum
The current reform focuses on Prep to Grade 2 literacy, but don’t expect it to stop there. The success of explicit teaching will inevitably inspire broader reforms. Other subjects, from math to science and beyond, will benefit from step-by-step teaching methods that provide students with clear guidance and structured practice.
The pendulum is swinging back — not because we’re returning to outdated practices, but because the data now supports what many teachers already knew: students need clear instruction to succeed.
How This Shift Will Benefit Students for Life
This isn’t just about academic outcomes — it’s about preparing students for the real world. Explicit teaching builds a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy, giving students the tools they need to think critically, solve problems and tackle new challenges. Once these fundamentals are mastered, students can engage with creative and inquiry-based learning more effectively.
This shift also underscores a valuable life lesson: Growth isn’t about guesswork — it’s about learning one step at a time, with the right support along the way.
The Bottom Line: A Better Future for Education
This policy change signals a long-overdue correction. Progressive teaching methods had their place in theory, but their implementation failed students and teachers alike. With explicit teaching, we’re moving back to evidence-based practices that empower both educators and learners.
For too long, teachers have been stretched too thin by unstructured models that expected them to do everything at once. Now, we have a chance to focus on what works — guiding students through clear, achievable steps that build real confidence and competence.
This isn’t about going backward — it’s about moving forward with what works.
Welcome back, explicit instruction. It’s time to do things right.
Do you agree with this shift away from inquiry-based learning and toward explicit instruction? Join the conversation in the comments below.