National anthem plan puzzles Vic schools

A Victorian government plan to instil national pride in migrant children has confused schools and the opposition, who believe the youngsters already feel Australian.

State Multicultural Minister Nick Kotsiras says up to a quarter of migrant children don't feel like they're Aussies and he wants to reverse the trend and have them join his "Team Australia", including by singing the anthem regularly.

"It's about making sure that our students, especially those new migrants, feel a part of the school community," the Greek-born government minister told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

But most schools already sing the national anthem during weekly school assemblies with principals reporting their students feel included, accepted and "Australian".

Dennis Osborne, acting principal at St Albans North Primary School, says every school he's worked in sings the national anthem and migrant children are fitting in and becoming friends with Australian-born classmates.

"From my experience, I think a lot of the refugee children that I have dealt with in schools are just so glad to be here that they embrace all aspects of school life, including things like how to sing the national anthem," he told AAP.

Dandenong North Primary principal Kevin Mackay says some migrant children do maintain a strong connection to their homeland, but they also sing the national anthem with pride and consider themselves to be Australian.

"I don't know that it's necessarily a problem," he told AAP.

"If there is an issue, I think it's more within older Australians than with the younger people. Our students feel like a big family."

The anthem singing pitch is part of the state government's plan to promote Australian values and culture within schools.

Mr Kotsiras says he's also looking at programs that encourage an understanding of Australian values, from knowledge of the legal system to state parliament and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

But Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says such school educational programs already exist.

"The vast majority, the absolutely vast majority of schools already sing the national anthem, and have a curriculum that talks about values that celebrates our Victorian and Australian way of life," he said.