The national curriculum will be overhauled as part of the Abbott government’s education reforms.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne will announce the curriculum review, to be led by education author Kevin Donnelly and Professor Ken Wiltshire, in Adelaide on Friday morning.

Prof Wiltshire has previously called on state and federal governments to do more to encourage Australian children to learn a second, or even third language, from early childhood.

Mr Donnelly, a former chief of staff to Howard government minister Kevin Andrews, has accused state-based education hierarchies of dumbing-down learning.

The coalition flagged the review before last year’s federal election, with then-education spokesman Mr Pyne pledging not to “throw it out holus-bolus”.

News Corporation Australia reports that Mr Pyne wants a reform blueprint by mid-year, and has vowed to restore an “orthodox” curriculum.