NAPLAN: Migrant students are outclassing Aussie kids in literacy and numeracy
STUDENTS from non-English backgrounds perform better in NAPLAN. Experts say they have higher motivation and their parents expect more from them.
NSW
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STUDENTS from non-English speaking backgrounds perform better in NAPLAN, with experts saying they have higher motivation and their parents expect more from them.
Students with a language background other than English (LBOTE) returned better mean scale scores in 19 out of the 20 numeracy and literacy categories across primary and secondary schooling, with “significant” differences in spelling and grammar.
In Year 3 spelling, LBOTE students were 36 points ahead of their peers, while in Year 5 grammar and punctuation they were 13 points ahead this year — after trailing in the category in 2008.
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In Year 7 spelling LBOTE students were 29 points ahead this year, while Year 9 LBOTE students were 22 points ahead in maths and 27 points ahead in spelling.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority CEO Robert Randall said the stronger results among the state’s non-English background students was pronounced.
“These are children who are highly motivated and are getting explicit and focused teaching,” he said.
There were subgroups of non-English students not performing well in NSW.
University of Canberra education researcher Professor Ting Wang said cultural values were significant and migrant parents tended to have higher expectations for their children because they wanted them to have a better future.
“The expectations of their children are higher, particularly with South-East Asian parents,” she said.
“Also, selective schools in NSW tend to have a high percentage of Asian or non-English backgrounds … so there can be peer influence.”
Australian Tutoring Association CEO Mohan Dhall said people from non-English backgrounds invested more in tutoring and education.
“The Australian norm is we want our kids to play sport, learn to swim or dance but we don’t invest in their thinking,” he said.
“People from Asian backgrounds tend to say this is something we can add in their child’s learning … even when they are not of high incomes it is one of the first investments they will make.”
This year’s NAPLAN national report showed that results had largely plateaued in recent years.
“We need to raise our expectations and strive for improved results across the board,” Mr Randall said.
Originally published as NAPLAN: Migrant students are outclassing Aussie kids in literacy and numeracy
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