ARTICLES
The Future of NAPLAN – both views
New South Wales has been testing the literacy and numeracy of school
students since Dr Metherill introduced it in 1989. Other states and territories
followed this practice throughout the 1990s before NAPLAN was introduced
across Australia in 2008. In recent years the test has been compromised, in
many cases because results have been advertised by numerous schools
to attract students, which has been regarded as a misuse of the data.
Furthermore, despite insistence by governments and organisers of the
program that there is no reason to practise the tests since they precisely
follow the ACARA school program, there are many tutorial colleges across
Australia making a great deal of money providing tutorials for children of
those parents desperately keen to give their children every advantage they
can. It is undeniable that, although practice does not necessarily make
perfect, it certainly assists concentration and confidence to be accustomed
to the format and timing of the tests.
Consequently, the two articles following, both republished from ‘The
Conversation’, give opposing views by academics about NAPLAN testing,
at least in its current form.
– Editor
In a series of articles in ‘The Conversation’, several experts examined
options for removing, replacing, rethinking or resuming NAPLAN.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 2