NAPLAN ban fail: Court slaps down teachers’ union test boycott

A PLAN to boycott NAPLAN by Queensland teachers has been given a fail grade by the Industrial Court, with teaching of the controversial test set to go ahead this year.

State school teachers in the

Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) voted almost unanimously to boycott teaching the controversial test to pupils in October last year.

However, in an internal memo circulated to all Department of Education staff on Friday, director-general

Tony Cook announced the industrial dispute had been slapped down by the courts.

“The department considered the directive to be unprotected industrial action, and therefore unlawful, and sought the assistance of the Queensland Industrial Relations

Commission (QIRC) to resolve the matter,” Mr Cook said. Following an appeal by the QTU, Mr Cook said that the Industrial Courts sided with the Education Department, ruling on Thursday that “the QTU … immediately cease and do not recommence.”

The QTU did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

In a statement, the Department of Education said the decision was now an opportunity to move forward with “fully implementing the Australian Curriculum”.

Among those who welcomed the decision to resume NAPLAN was the Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland. Vice-president Cameron Murray said the test was a powerful tool to ensure schools weren’t missing elements of students’ learning.