The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has confirmed an option is available for jurisdictions to provide schools and students effected by connectivity issues to re-sit NAPLAN tests later in May.
However, after consulting with stakeholders on Friday including Catholic Education Tasmania, Independent Schools Tasmania, the Tasmanian Principals Association, the Australian Education Union and the Tasmanian Association of State School Associations, I am strongly of the view that the benefits of resitting the tests are outweighed by the potentially negative impact on our learners and teachers.
As a result Tasmanian government school students will not be asked to re-sit NAPLAN.
This decision will allow Tasmanian government schools, students, teachers and parents to move past NAPLAN testing and to continue with the 2019 school year.
NAPLAN is a snapshot in time of a student’s learning and should not be treated as the only indicator of student progress.
I’ve requested that advice be prepared for the National Education Council to consider any impact to NAPLAN 2019 reporting from these disruptions, and to ensure any students whose tests were disrupted are not disadvantaged.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training