The latest NAPLAN test results show Australian schools are in something of a writing slump.
States and territories have received the preliminary results for this year's round of NAPLAN examinations.
Nationally, there has been a 3.5 per cent improvement in reading, and a 2.5 per cent improvement in numeracy since 2008. But writing skills are down, dropping by just over two per cent since the test format changed in 2011.
Queensland and Western Australia have shown the most improvement in literacy and numeracy over the past decade. ACT, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania all achieved high results, but their results have levelled out. South Australia is the worst-performing mainland state in 16 out of 20 categories. The Northern Territory is the only state or territory to go backwards across all categories since last year.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the results were a "real concern".
The SBS Korean program has more.
