When students at Thomas Mitchell Primary School sit their NAPLAN tests, many won’t have eaten or touched a drop of water since before dawn.
About one third of students at the Endeavour Hills state school are Muslims who observe Ramadan, a month-long fast that has coincided with the national literacy and numeracy tests for two years in a row.
Principal John Hurley says the clash is disadvantaging Muslim students.
There are calls for NAPLAN to be rescheduled to accommodate students observing RamdanCredit: Jim Rice
“They struggle to concentrate and their energy levels are low,” he explains.
“You are not getting a true indication of the kids. The education department puts such a huge emphasis on NAPLAN. It’s very unfair on these kids.”
Mr Hurley has written to the Victorian Education Department to call for the May testing dates to be changed “to ensure equity for all students”. Ramadan begins on May 5.
He said while children were not required to fast before they hit puberty, many chose to do so.
These students fast between sunrise and sunset and have no snacks, lunch or hydration during the day.
Rahat Arain, the director of student learning and achievement at Al Siraat College in Epping, said the timing of NAPLAN was not ideal.
Her school schedules NAPLAN tests first thing in the morning to ensure fasting students' energy levels are at their highest.
“We are an Australian school in the Islamic tradition so being part of Australia you are not going to get concessions," she said. "It’s something we really have to get used to and manage."
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, the body that administers NAPLAN, has developed guidelines to support students who observe Ramadan.
The guidelines, which were developed in consultation with the Islamic Schools Association of Australia, state that fasting students may be more tired than usual.
An ACARA spokesman said NAPLAN testing dates were set well in advance and accommodated school term dates across Australia.
“As Ramadan’s commencement date changes each year and has a duration of one month, it may at times fall during NAPLAN,” he said.
Nancy Magraby's daughter sat her Year 5 NAPLAN tests at Thomas Mitchell Primary School last year while fasting.
She said her daughter's concentration levels diminished when she was fasting and she suspects that younger students, who are new to fasting, are more affected.
Inaz Janif, a parent who is also a secondary school teacher, said students did not perform at their best while fasting.
“If they compare the NAPLAN results of those taking part in Ramadan and those who aren't, you would see a big difference,” she said.
But Islamic Schools Association of Australia president Abdullah Khan said fasting during Ramadan had a minimal impact on students’ test results.
“They are resilient, most of them start fasting from an early age,” he said.
Islamic Council of Victoria vice president Adel Salman said he had sympathy for those wanting NAPLAN to be rescheduled, but also understood the difficulty in moving the tests.
"Fasting does impact some students over others," he said. "I have sat exams during Ramadan and while I can't see that materially disadvantaged me, I know others who it definitely did."
The holy month changes by 11 days every year and is set by a lunar calendar. This year, Australian Muslims will observe Ramadan from May 5 to June 4.
Pen and paper NAPLAN tests will run from May 14 to 16, while schools taking part in NAPLAN online have a nine-day testing window.