Selective school test fiasco to undergo independent review
By Emily Kowal
The former head of the federal education department will lead an independent review of the running of this year’s NSW opportunity class and selective high school exams, after significant disruptions resulted in around 20,000 students having their tests postponed.
The high-stakes exams descended into chaos earlier this month after crowds surged outside testing centres and computer failures led to the rescheduling of several tests.
Riot police were called to a testing mega-centre in Canterbury, and police attended another Randwick. Technical issues at an Olympic Park centre meant at least 51 children experienced computer glitches.
Riot police were called to the selective schools test at Canterbury Park Racecourse earlier this month.
Impacted students were able to retake the highly competitive exam, however only their best result will count, angering parents whose children did not get two attempts.
The review will be released by mid-July, before the tests’ results are announced on July 31.
Parent Angeline Sun told the Herald the decision was “unfair” to children who are not eligible for two attempts.
“It’s absolutely not fair for the kids who only have one opportunity to take the test,” she said at the time.
“I understood the kids who sat the test [at the affected sites] experienced a big chaos, sadness and stress, but this is very important, probably one of the most important events in the kid’s life,” Sun said.
The review, led by education academic Dr Michele Bruniges, will examine why issues occurred and provide recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
It will also assess the department’s delivery of the rescheduled tests and provide recommendations on how testing should occur going forward.
A former teacher, Bruniges was recently secretary of education in the federal government and is the current Chair of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership.
Education Minister Prue Car said the test disruptions were “not acceptable”.
“That’s why I have ordered an independent review to ensure that it does not happen again and determine the path forward informed by expert advice,” she said.
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