NAPLAN results 'on track' to be released amid delay fears

Parents and teachers will be able to compare the standardised NAPLAN test results of students who took the exams online with those who used traditional pen and paper.

File image

File image Source: AAP

The national assessment body says its data analysts have confirmed the two data sets can be compared, following reports some state and territory education department bosses due to meet in Canberra on Wednesday have concerns.

One in five students in years three, five, seven and nine who took the standardised tests did so online in the first year of a three-year rollout of online testing.

"As this is the first year of online assessment extra attention has been given to reviewing the data and ensuring it is comparable with previous years and between online and paper test modes," the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority said on Wednesday.

Media reports suggest some education heads raised concerns at a meeting earlier this month about how the data would be released.

A number of options had been considered, including one combined public report, two separate reports or no report at all.

The authority also rejected suggestions there could be delays in releasing the results, confirming they're "on track" to be released soon.
More than a million students across the country have started the annual NAPLAN tests.
More than a million students across the country have started the annual NAPLAN tests. Source: SBS
The transition to online testing has received mixed responses.

Labor's education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek wants to see the rollout happening faster, saying it was astounding that in 2018 students were still sitting pen and paper tests.

"NAPLAN online, if delivered well, could give students, parents and teachers more accurate and timely information," she said.

But the Australian Education Union boss Correna Haythorpe said it was a "disaster" and repeated the AEU's earlier calls for online tests to be scrapped.

"NAPLAN online is fundamentally flawed and must not be implemented," she said.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
NAPLAN results 'on track' to be released amid delay fears | SBS News