NAPLAN results 'a wake up call': Education Minister

This year's NAPLAN (National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy) national report is being described as a "wake up call", with results showing students declining overall in their reading and writing scores.

Primary school children in Queensland Source: AAP

The report shows that literacy and numeracy standards among secondary students have either flat-lined or gone backwards over the past 10 years.

While there has been improvement at the primary school level, Education Minister Simon Birmingham concedes the results are concerning.