The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is under fire.
Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe has called for the program to be abolished:
NAPLAN has been plagued by a lack of credibility with teachers and parents for years. It is time for the Federal Government to scrap NAPLAN for good and replace it with a new sample – based assessment strategy that has students and teachers at its heart.
The purpose of NAPLAN
Across Australia, students sit for NAPLAN tests in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine.
The tests focus on a range of skills such as comprehension, spelling and grammar, creative writing and mathematics skills.
NAPLAN was around when I was at school. I remember taking it in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine.
Teachers used NAPLAN results to assess students’ abilities. They could also see the areas students needed help.
From helping tool to competition
The invention of the MySchool website in 2010, made NAPLAN contentious.
Rather than teachers focusing on improvements and struggles of students, school reputation was the focus.
In 2016, a Sydney public school came under fire when a student was asked to stay home in fear that the student would drag the school average down.
The parent of the child received a letter from the school about the request. The excuse given was to avoid “stress” for the student.
The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) warns teachers not to exclude students.
Other recommendations from ACARA
On their website, ACARA endorses NAPLAN. Its recommendations for teachers and parents include:
- Tell the students to do the best they can that day
- Avoid cramming and coaching leading to the tests
- Parents should ask teachers questions
ACARA and the media
The media have right to publish results by ACARA under Freedom of Information and Copyright Act 1968.
Any journalists who wish to report on results are responsible for gaining copyright clearances.
NAPLAN could have merit
I’m not an educator, teacher or education researcher. I took the NAPLAN tests in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine.
When I sat for NAPLAN, I was average. One of my biggest weaknesses was comprehension and creative writing was my strength. I think that’s an accurate presentation of me, especially throughout school.
My primary school and high school didn’t worry or emphasise on results. It wasn’t a competition. The aim was to see where students’ strengths were and where they needed help.
I’m not sure whether NAPLAN itself is a terrible tool. But I think it’s original purpose is lost.
I think the MySchool website should be abolished. That’s when issues seemed to start.
NAPLAN’s focus should be on helping children in English and Mathematics. Any areas students struggle in should ne addressed.
NAPLAN shouldn’t be about the egos of schools. Unfortunately, I think what NAPLAN’s become.
Bring back NAPLAN’s original intent. Then maybe it could benefit ALL teachers and students.
What are your views on NAPLAN? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.