Mark Scott claims university entrance is as easy as ABC
Former ABC chairman Mark Scott yesterday defended tough new benchmarks to be introduced next year that will require Year 9 students to meet a minimum standard before going on to the HSC in Year 12.
NSW
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THE HSC should be only “one element” of the selection process for university, the state’s new education boss said yesterday.
Former ABC chairman Mark Scott yesterday defended tough new benchmarks to be introduced next year that will require Year 9 students to meet a minimum standard before going on to the HSC in Year 12.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, NSW Department of Education secretary Mr Scott said: “We do students no favours by letting them leave our education system if they haven’t reached a satisfactory standard of literacy and numeracy.”
Mr Scott, a speaker at a Sydney Business Chamber Future of Education roundtable, said universities should widen their selection process beyond the HSC. He said that if it was no longer seen as a “single gateway” into higher education it could relieve pressure and make the HSC more enjoyable.
“There is a tail wagging the dog function around the HSC that some of the characteristics of the HSC are developed to make the universities’ job easier about selecting students — well that isn’t what the HSC should be about,” he told the crowd in response to criticisms the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank for HSC students was becoming “irrelevant”.
“If universities are finding that increasingly inadequate, well then great, universities should go and investigate seriously, using the HSC as an element, but only one element of their selection processes.
“It would cost them more money, take them more time, but I suspect would allow them to have a richer, and more insightful selection process than the HSC offers.
“If that’s the case, then I think a lot of the concern that people have about the HSC, particularly the pressure that’s built up around the HSC, as a single gateway through to higher education will dissipate then it will be easier for students to enjoy the HSC experience more.”
MARK SCOTT SCORES JOB WITH THE NSW EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Mr Scott said he believed the HSC, which he called a “world-class credential”, remained a crucial part of the learning experience.
He defended major reforms that will require Year 9 students to show a minimum literacy and numeracy standard by getting a mark of band 8 or above in their NAPLAN tests, which critics say puts too much pressure on kids who are too young.
“What is most important is that every child leaves our schools system with satisfactory levels of literacy and numeracy,” he said.
“Good standards of literacy and numeracy are passports to life’s opportunities.”
He said if students didn’t reach the standard in Year 9, they would have further opportunities in Years 10, 11 and 12. He said they were putting more “resources” into schools to help students meet the minimum standard.
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