Fair marks for VCE

Scores to account for lockdown

EVERY VCE student will be assessed to determine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their Year 12 results in an unprecedented special consideration program.

Senior students breathed a sigh of relief when Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Friday that the effects of the lockdown would be factored into their study scores and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

All impacts from the pandemic on students will be considered, including mental health, school closures, issues with remote learning, long absences, personal illness and increased family responsibility.

Teachers will face a burgeoning workload in term 4 as they put the information together for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

That information would include teachers’ expectations for their students before COVID-19, their school assessments before remote learning, exam and General Achievement Test results and other available statistical analysis.

Students are not required to do anything to support their assessment.

VTAC also announced a simplified application for special consideration for those applying to higher education courses.

Pupils applying through the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) will be able to rate their level of impact from remote learning, factoring in unreliable internet, lack of access to a device or materials, and not having a suitable home study space.

Mr Andrews said every student had been hit by the pandemic but “the challenge is to make sure that it doesn’t decide their future”.

“My message to VCE students is clear: you concentrate on doing your best, and we’ll take care of everything else,” he said.

Education Minister James Merlino said the special consideration program was “quite an extraordinary change” and meant one less thing for VCE students and their parents to worry about.

It’s understood the last time a broad-ranging special consideration process was applied for VCE students was after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Year 12 student Morgan, 17, said it was welcome news, given her extra family responsibilities during the lockdown.

“My dad is a police officer so a lot has changed — he has to do curfew patrol and so I’m working with my dad not at home,” she said.

“I help out with the cooking and cleaning, vacuuming and doing the washing.

“People go through different things so this will just even out the playing field for everyone.”

Classmate Tiana, 18, said her family routine had changed, and with both her parents being essential workers, things had been “flat out”.

“Definitely, they needed to do something and I think this is a good thing,” she said.

“I learn well at home but some people are really struggling.”