Page 1257 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 2021
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What is important to note is the way that those measures are calculated and whether those calculations are fair and provide the right data that suggests that our ACT schools are not performing in the way that they absolutely are. In my opinion—thanks to our excellent teaching professionals—our public schools are providing the best possible education across the ACT. I congratulate our public school teachers every single day and I thank them every single day for the work that they do to support our children and our families across our systems, to make sure that they have the best possible education outcomes and can aspire to whatever it is they want to be.
MS LEE: Minister, what assessment have you or your directorate undertaken to come to the conclusion that this report is not accurate, and what have you personally done to address the negative results identified through the report?
MS BERRY: I remind members of the Assembly that NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment on a very narrow set of margins that does not tell the whole story of where a child is on the education journey. That is the important part of this conversation. What is important for a student, and for their parents and families, is how that individual student is going with their educational journey. The best person to provide that advice—
Ms Lee: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, please, minister.
Ms Lee: Madam Speaker, the question specifically was about what assessment the minister has undertaken to come to the conclusion in her first comment that she had a problem or a concern about the results of this report. She has not answered that question.
MADAM SPEAKER: She is talking about various assessments.
Ms Lee: She is talking about NAPLAN specifically.
MADAM SPEAKER: I still think the response is in order. I give the minister the time she has left to conclude.
MS BERRY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The point I was getting to was that teachers know best how these students are performing.
MR DAVIS: Minister, could you outline some of the supports the directorate is providing to young people who are undertaking the NAPLAN test today?
MS BERRY: I thank Mr Davis for the question. It is important that students who are participating in NAPLAN today take it as it comes, to not stress too much, and that is definitely the message—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
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