AEU – My School changes ignore NAPLAN’s real problems

Changes to the way NAPLAN data is presented on the My School website to compare the performance of students from like backgrounds do nothing to address the issues of corrupted data introduced by the shambolic rollout of NAPLAN Online says the AEU’s Corenna Haythorpe.

“It makes no difference how you present NAPLAN data when the data itself is irretrievably corrupted,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“ACARA’s own National Report earlier this year admitted that NAPLAN results had been corrupted by connectivity issues which had prevented many students from having a fair attempt to do their best.

“This means that the NAPLAN dataset data is now so seriously compromised it cannot be relied upon by education departments, schools, parents, or the broader community. In light of this the Morrison Government has no alternative but to replace NAPLAN completely.”

Haythorpe said that the Commonwealth should join the existing state-and-territory-led review into NAPLAN which is already underway.

“There is a growing consensus within the teaching profession that NAPLAN has got to go,” Ms Haythorpe said. “While federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has refused to undertake a comprehensive review of NAPLAN, the New South Wales, Queensland, ACT and Victorian governments have recognised the widespread concerns and are conducting their own review due to report later this year.”

“The fact that school authorities with a combined responsibility for more than three quarters of all students in Australia acknowledge that NAPLAN needs to be reviewed, when Mr Tehan does not, is a continuing source of embarrassment for the Morrison Government,” Haythorpe said.