ACT schools’ performance in the 2018 NAPLAN online test has been welcomed as ‘strong’ by the Minister for Education, Yvette Berry, a day after researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) declared past results ‘alarming’.
Ms Berry said 91 per cent of ACT schools and 94 per cent of ACT students completed online testing across the four NAPLAN domains of reading, persuasive writing, language conventions and numeracy.
“ACT mean scores were the highest or equal highest in the nation along with NSW and Victoria in 16 of the 20 areas tested,” Ms Berry said, “compared with 15 of 20 in the equivalent report last year.”
“This included Year 7 and 9 ranked highest or equal highest in all areas.”
Despite these achievements, data analysis conducted by the ANU reveals that ACT school students were several months, sometimes years, behind their peers in writing and numeracy.
The researchers from the ANU School of Law studied NAPLAN results from 2012-to-2016 for ACT schools and compared them to the same data for equivalent schools in the same socio-economic profile.
Lead author, Andrew Macintosh labelled the results as “alarming”.
“The analysis showed ACT schools, both Government and non-government, are being outperformed by comparable schools in other jurisdictions,” Professor Macintosh said.
“This research demonstrates, once again, that learning outcomes are not solely linked to resourcing. The ACT has some of the best resourced schools in the country but their students are still under-performing.”
Ms Berry said she held concerns that some students, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, did not have access to an equal start in their education and life.
“The Government’s work developing the Future of Education Strategy has responded with a key focus on equity, on making sure that every school student is supported according to their needs towards the best possible learning outcomes.” The Minister said.
“Additionally, the Government has commenced a focused effort to improve data literacy and use among teachers.”
She said parents could expect to receive their child’s NAPLAN report in the coming weeks.
The ANU’s 24-page research paper can be accessed at this PS News link.