Page 1127 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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initiated this inquiry to understand the purpose and use of standardised testing results, including the processes that supported standardised testing. This includes well-known tests such as NAPLAN, program for international student assessment and trends in international mathematics and science study. The committee also considered alternative forms of assessment and reporting currently used, such as A-E reporting.
The committee conducted five public hearings and received 12 submissions. The committee made 20 recommendations. They acknowledge that standardised testing can be useful to students, parents and educators when conducted correctly. A number of recommendations consider how results are published in the media. The report also highlights that standardised testing should be a considered a low-stakes test and not generate additional stress for students, parents or educators. The committee recommends clear guidelines for prohibiting preparation for tests enforced across all schools in the ACT.
The committee would like to acknowledge the significant contributions from those participating in the inquiry either by providing submissions or attending as witnesses. I particularly thank the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development who provided the committee with a number of additional resources that assisted us in making our final recommendations.
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (10.25): I welcome this opportunity to speak briefly on this report. I was not a member of the committee when this inquiry was taking evidence but as shadow minister for education I followed its progress closely and had the opportunity to deliberate in preparing the report for tabling today.
In May last year, amid a long, concerted campaign by the union and, some could argue, perhaps even the minister, to discredit NAPLAN, the education committee decided to conduct its own inquiry and broadened its scope to cover standardised testing across the board. That includes PISA, program for international student assessment, also PIPS, performance indicators in primary school, and PIRLS, progress in international reading literacy study.
Over a period of some months the committee sought and received a number of submissions from a wide number of sources and held a number of public hearings where evidence could be examined and tested. I believe that the 20 recommendations listed in the report will provide a very useful reference for the ACT Education Directorate and also the minister in her work on the education ministerial council.
The report acknowledges that standardised testing and particularly NAPLAN have an important role to play but of course are not without their flaws. But should NAPLAN be scrapped because some are not comfortable with it? Should NAPLAN be scrapped because this minister and this government do not like the numerous independent experts’ findings that the ACT has been sliding in academic performance? I do not believe so and, fortunately, the education committee does not either.
In moving to some of the recommendations, they overwhelmingly reflect support for continuation of standardised testing which can be a valuable diagnostic tool when
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