NAPLAN needs to be overhauled, according to Australia’s three biggest states, NSW, Queensland and Victoria who commissioned a review of the system last year. They have also suggested that the name should also be changed to Australian National Standardised Assessments (ANSA)
National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) existence is being challenged by the three biggest states in Australia, who are working together to overhaul the system. The plan was commissioned last year and a report has been released analyzing the shortcomings of the system and how it can be improved.
NAPLAN recommendations from the report
The report recommends the tests to be moved from year 9 to year 10. They argued that for year 9 students had the highest absence, according to data and also they were not mature enough to make decisions that affect their lives. However, the report indicated that a year 10 students would be able to think clearly and make important choices about their subjects for their HSC.
They also want the test to be held at the beginning of a school year and they also recommended the addition of critical and creating thinking tests in STEM subjects. The writing component of NAPLAN was also recommended to be overhauled. Data showed that since its introduction, students’ performance was declining every year, a sign that it needed to be overhauled.
The report also recommended that the test be expanded to encompass more than just literacy and numeracy. They suggested that critical thinking skills were just as important as literacy and numeracy and also indicated that they needed students who could also think creatively when working on tasks.
Change of Name
The review also called for a rebranding of NAPLAN to Australian National Standardised Assessments (ANSA). The report which was commissioned by Education ministers from NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT, has, however, faced opposition from the government who argued that there was no need to change the NAPLAN testing system.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan indicated that the government’s top priority right now was ensuring that NAPLAN was adopted in all states. He said that the system was improving and indicated that the government was not looking forward to changing its name.
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