NAPLAN changes slammed

THE Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) has slammed changes to NAPLAN which have seen testing moved forward two months.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit tests from today until March 27. In previous years testing took place in May.

According to the Department of Education the move will mean earlier results, allowing students who need extra support to get it sooner.

But QTU president Cresta Richardson said the schedule change could add to anxiety felt by students and heap extra pressure on teachers.

“Students will be tested with six weeks less learning compared with previous years, putting even more pressure on teachers at the already busy start of the school year and heightening students’ anxiety, particularly those in Years 3 and 5,” Ms Richardson said.

With NAPLAN testing also moving online this year, Ms Richardson said the Department of Education needed to provide funds for technology upgrades in schools.

“This includes providing enough ICT (Information and Communications Technology) resources to ensure that other year levels’ online learning is not compromised during the NAPLAN testing window,” Ms Richardson said.

“NAPLAN remains a pointin-time test with little relevance to the broad curriculum taught in schools and is of little value compared with the deeper assessments conducted throughout the year across all year levels.”

Education Minister Grace Grace sent her best wishes to students preparing to sit NAPLAN tests from today.

“I wish all Queensland students the very best of luck with NAPLAN, but I want to remind everyone: NAPLAN is not the be all and end all,” Ms Grace said.

“NAPLAN is simply a point in time test and is just one of many ways that schools can assess their students’ progress and identify if extra support is required.”