Ramadan fasting ‘hinders Islamic NAPLAN pupils’

Schools have been told to bring NAPLAN tests forward to suit religious fasting by Islamic students during the holy month.

Ali Kadri, principal of the Islamic College of Brisbane, has raised concerns about the timing of NAPLAN tests during Ramadan. Picture: Glenn Hunt

Schools have been told to bring NAPLAN tests forward to accommodate religious fasting by Islamic students during the holy month of Ramadan.

More than a million students will sit the annual National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests, starting next week.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are required to sit four tests – reading, writing, spelling and punctuation, and mathematics – with each test lasting between 45 and 65 minutes.

Islamic researcher Professor Mohamad Abdalla, of the University of South Australia’s Centre for Islamic Thought and Education, warned on Thursday that NAPLAN would be “even harder’’ for Muslim students this year as it coincides with Ramadan fasting.

He called on schools to be “culturally responsive’’ and provide alternative testing times for Muslim students, or let them take breaks during the tests if needed.

He said the fatigue of fasting – when students cannot even drink water during daylight hours – could “reduce students’ ability to perform at their best’’.

“The scheduling of NAPLAN testing during the period between Ramadan and the Eid festival presents unique challenges for students within the Islamic community,’’ he said.

“Fasting during Ramadan, which involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn until sunset, can potentially impact students’ concentration, energy levels and overall wellbeing.’’

Islamic College of Brisbane chief executive Ali Kadri said the timing of this year’s NAPLAN test was “a little insensitive’’.

“The fasting becomes compulsory from the age of puberty, so the kids in Year 9 and potentially Year 7 are required to fast,’’ he said.

“It can hinder their ability to recall information and answer the questions as effectively as they would on a full stomach.

“It would have been better if NAPLAN wasn’t held during Ramadan.’’

NAPLAN tests will start next week.

ACARA, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, has advised schools that Muslim children “may be more tired than usual’’ due to fasting and then waking before dawn to eat breakfast.

An ACARA spokesman yesterday said schools were being encouraged to schedule tests at the earliest date in the 12-day testing window, and to stage tests first thing in the morning.

He said federal, state and territory education authorities had set the testing dates, in consultation with the Islamic Schools Association of Australia.

“As Islamic religious celebrations such as Ramadan and Eid are set by the lunar calendar, with the dates changing from year to year, they may at times fall during NAPLAN,’’ he said.

“This year, Ramadan takes place during the NAPLAN testing window.

“Schools are encouraged to schedule their tests as soon as possible in the testing window and encouraged to schedule NAPLAN tests first thing in the morning to ensure fasting students’ energy levels are at their highest.’’

NAPLAN tests have traditionally been held in May, but education ministers agreed to bring the date forward so schools receive the results sooner, giving them more time to help any students struggling with reading, writing and maths.