New measures will be introduced to enable senior students to complete VCE, VCAL
Victoria’s school holidays were brought forward in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, creating a great deal of uncertainty for Year 11 and 12 students. But new measures will be implemented to ensure they graduate.
Education
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Crucial VCE assessments could be done remotely for the first time and tests delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
VCE students undertaking their most important years of schooling may complete tasks from home that contribute to their final ATAR rank.
But Education Minister James Merlino has vowed “VCE and VCAL students will complete their studies”.
It comes after some schools brought forward School Assessed Coursework (SACs) to Monday, the final day of school, when the State Government started Easter holidays early amid COVID-19 fears.
“Our students and their families, teachers and principals are obviously concerned about what the impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be on students who are currently doing their VCE or VCAL,” Mr Merlino said.
“Our Year 11 and 12 students will receive the care and support they need during this important time in their schooling.
“We are working on a range of options to ensure they are supported to do that. This includes a greater focus on online learning, the delaying of deadlines for particular pieces of assessable work and the GAT, the timing of exams and looking at what other supports we can provide.”
The General Achievement Test (GAT) — which assesses VCE students’ knowledge of written communication, maths, science, and humanities — may be postponed from it’s usual time in June.
Advice to teachers from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) includes how they could modify and run “formative SACs” remotely.
Students could complete tasks in online programs with timed windows, which shut down or close off access when the time is up.
Pupils could also be given limited time to send work in by email to teachers for marking.
Time extensions for assessments may also be offered.
VCE students would be urged to complete work in an environment devoid of distraction and interruption.
The nation’s education ministers will meet on Friday to discuss a consistent plan for all Australian senior students.
Australian Principals’ Federation federal president Julie Podbury said staff had raised concerns about students who don’t have internet access.
The Herald Sun understands some schools are raising money to hook up the homes of vulnerable kids, or working directly with internet providers.
People in the community had even contacted principals to offer computers to students that they weren’t using.
“The vulnerable, at-risk and migrant kids are the ones who we are most worried about,” Ms Podbury said.
“Many, many kids will do OK remotely — my fear is where kids don't have technology.
“But nothing is impossible and tech is not the only answer.”
Teachers were already planning mail-home packs of work for students, which could include daily classroom instructions.
Term 2 is set to begin for students on April 15.
KEY POINTS
— Education Minister vows VCE and VCAL will continue
— VCE tasks could be done from home
— SACs may run in timed programs
— Annual GAT test likely delayed
— Principals worried about vulnerable and migrant pupils