NAPLAN 2022: Results delayed due to ‘historically low’ uptake
Illness and floods have been blamed for the record low number of students taking the controversial standardised NAPLAN test this year.
NSW
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This year’s NAPLAN results have been delayed after Covid, the flu wave and flooding resulted in a record number of students skipping the standardised test.
One education expert said low participation was an “alarming” indication of attitudes towards the national literacy and numeracy assessment.
Preliminary results were scheduled to be released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) this month but the low participation rate has forced the analysis period to be extended.
“The lower than usual participation rate means closer analysis of jurisdictional-level results is required,” ACARA chief executive David de Carvalho said.
“NAPLAN is one of the only national measures available into the effects of the pandemic on schooling, and so taking the time to investigate the data more closely is important.”
About four million tests were completed nationally this year but more than 70,000 students missed out.
Participation ranged between 85 per cent for Year 9 numeracy and 95 per cent for Year 5 reading.
ACARA said 90 per cent participation was needed for analysis and results for students who did not sit the test would need to be estimated.
Northern Beaches mum Kate Stephens said she used the results to keep up with her children’s outcomes.
“I had one child sit the test this year and another who did it last year,” Ms Stephens said.
“They’re happy to be back at school after home learning because they’re in so many activities and with their friends.”
St Dominic’s College Penrith director of teaching and learning David Gerlach said about 90 per cent of its students sat the test this year.
“We’re really eager to see those results,” Mr Gerlach said.
“We use them to determine our education priorities for the following year and we’ve already started to plan for that, plus we use that data to decide things like our class mixes.”
Preliminary NAPLAN results typically released in August show outcomes for each year level, per state or territory and nationally.
Results at the individual student and school level are not affected by the participation rates, and parents and schools will be receiving those results over the next few weeks.
The Centre for Independent Studies education program director Glenn Fahey said low participation rates should be seen as a “warning sign” for those in education policy. “The only other time we haven’t had results was in 2020 when there was no test, so it’s quite alarming to see there are no results available,” Mr Fahey said.
“What we need to know now is what factors were most responsible for low participation and why schools weren’t able to adapt out of this.
“NAPLAN was quickly abandoned in 2020, rather than our policy makers fighting for the test to proceed through Covid.
“The premature decision to say the test was not an essential service within the education system is likely to have informed the attitudes that have resulted in non-participation this year.”
NAPLAN is an annual literacy and numeracy test for all students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Science, civics and digital literacy are also tested on a three-year rolling basis.
Originally published as NAPLAN 2022: Results delayed due to ‘historically low’ uptake
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