The shadow education minister, Julian Leeser, has revealed the Coalition’s plan to cut content on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture, Australia’s engagement with Asia, and sustainability from the Australian curriculum.

In its place students would learn about “national pride” and “Western values”.

Leeser’s speech at an education conference on Saturday in Sydney comes after Australian students recorded their worst maths and reading results in international testing.

The 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment results, released earlier this month, also found classroom disruption remained among the worst in the world.

“Our academic performance is worse than ever. Our boys are disengaged and falling behind. Our classrooms are disrupted and, in some cases, dangerous. We don’t have enough teachers, but it’s also harder than it used to be to become a teacher,” Leeser said.

Leeser suggested that ADF veterans could be used to instil discipline in students. Photo: AAP

He said students should be taught and exposed to the “foundations of Western culture” including democracy, the rule of law and “a fair go”.

“I want Australian students to learn more about all three strands of our history: our Indigenous heritage, our British foundation and our multicultural character,” he said.

“Let every school have a flag and let every student take pride in it, its history and the values for which it stands.

“On teaching our children about national pride, there is much to do.”

Leeser also suggested ADF veterans could be used to better instil discipline in students.

“When I think about the need for better classroom behaviour and more discipline in our classrooms, about the need for more support for Australian values, it seems to make sense,” he said.

Indigenous history and culture, sustainability and engagement with Asia are currently taught using a cross-curriculum approach, meaning they are embedded across multiple subject areas.

Leeser instead wanted them taught as dedicated units within one subject.