The Gold Coast Bulletin

NAPLAN opt-outs spark call on parents

- STEPHANIE BENNETT

PARENTS of students taking part in NAPLAN next month have been urged not to pull them from sitting the national tests, despite rising anxiety levels over the controvers­ial system.

The number of parents opting to withdraw their children from NAPLAN participat­ion has risen over the past few years in Queensland, across the various age groups and subject areas.

Education Minister Grace Grace said she was aware parents were choosing to stop their children sitting NAPLAN tests, which were undertaken by years 3, 5, 7 and 9 each year.

Ms Grace said many parents withdrew their children due to “the anxiety and stress that they feel their child is unnecessar­ily going through”.

The comment was backed up by a review into NAPLAN released by the Queensland Government last month. It included responses from more than 7500 parents and carers, 3000 students and 6000 teachers, principals and education stakeholde­rs.

More than half of parents said their children were anxious or very anxious about NAPLAN tests.

The 2018 NAPLAN national report showed withdrawal rates in Queensland had steadily climbed, with Year 9 students the most likely to be withdrawn.

Ms Grace said she would continue to push for a national review into NAPLAN. She said “a week doesn’t go by without having someone talk to me about NAPLAN”.

“I think every child should do NAPLAN and I encourage parents to see how their child is progressin­g,” she said.

“But clearly parents exercise a choice at times and that’s one of the issues I want to have a look at … why are parents doing that?”

This year’s NAPLAN will be held from May 14-16.

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