NAPLAN wins tick of approval from Centre for Independent Studies

The benefits of NAPLAN testing far outweigh the perceived negatives, an independent think tank says.

Abandoning NAPLAN would ‘amount to a retrograde move away from transparent and accountable government’, the report says.

The benefits of NAPLAN testing far outweigh the perceived negatives, with the results providing an important tool for improving teacher and school performance, an independent think tank says.

In a report out today, Centre for Independent Studies education policy analyst Blaise ­Joseph has defended the much-maligned literacy and numeracy tests, arguing that recent attacks were unfounded and at odds with the views of parents as well as many educators.

“NAPLAN as a standardised assessment serves the function of a diagnostic tool for schools and (school) systems,” Mr Joseph said.

“Results can be used as a tool to identify issues with student and school performance, and facilitate interventions to improve results over time.

“NAPLAN data is regularly used to identify best-practice case studies that have led to substantial student gains in literacy and numeracy, informing the practices of other schools.”

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy exams this week amid calls for a review of the program led by teachers’ unions and NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes, who has claimed the test has been used dishonestly as a school rating system.

Critics also say the tests place undue stress on young people and their families, leading to parents enrolling their children in tutoring, despite widespread condemnation of such practices. Over the recent school holidays, libraries across western Sydney held classes to help children as young as eight practise for the tests, while a swimming centre in Bexley also hosted NAPLAN tutoring.

Knox Grammar School at Wahroonga on Sydney’s north shore conducted NAPLAN boot camps for students earlier this year.

NAPLAN critics have also ­argued that the test has not led to any improvement in student ­results and is narrow in its ­assessment, concentrating on ­literacy and numeracy and ignoring the general capabilities, such as ­critical and creative thinking.

Mr Joseph said claims the test harmed students or caused stress were not backed up by rigorous research. “This claim is based on small studies with serious methodological issues and conflicting findings,” he said.

“It is not clear that testing by itself harms students. Low-level student anxiety in preparation for any test is normal, and this is very different from serious mental health issues or even undue temporary levels of distress.”

Mr Joseph was equally critical of claims that the test had not boosted Australia’s academic standards, which have been in ­decline for the past decade.

He said it was unreasonable to blame a test for not improving standards, as the role of a test was to identify issues, not solve them.

Mr Joseph said no test was perfect but assessment was an integral part of education, which attracted more than $50 billion in taxpayers’ funds each year.

“Abandoning NAPLAN or the (related) MySchool website would amount to a retrograde move away from transparent and accountable government.”