States mark Simon Birmingham’s year 1 exam plans as a fail

An education reform plan to test Year 1 students for numeracy and literacy has hit state hurdles.

Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones. Picture: Jerad Williams

The states are rebelling against a federal push for the national rollout of Year 1 literacy and numeracy checks, with Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones saying “no parent wants more exams for their children’’.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham proposed the “light touch’’ assessments last year as part of Canberra’s education reforms, and yesterday publicly released an expert panel report into checks for six-year-olds. The panel, chaired by education expert Jennifer Buckingham, backed the need for a literacy check concentrating on phonics and a numeracy check to screen whether children are learning the foundation skills necessary for maths and reading.

The experts found while checks existed in some schools, there were gaps in consistency across the nation especially in ­relation to phonics.

A teacher would conduct the one-on-one assessments in a relaxed environment, and it would not be a National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) style high-pressure, high-stakes test. The results would not be publicly reported. Ms Jones said at last Friday’s education ministers meeting in Adelaide that the federal government failed to garner support for the proposed checks.

“Queensland schools already assess students’ readiness for school and their progress through Prep and Year 1,’’ she said.

“This new test is all part of the federal government agenda to ­introduce more bureaucracy and more red tape for schools.”

Senator Birmingham said the authors of the expert report would brief education ministers at their next meeting in December and Canberra would work cooperatively with the states.

“I hope that we can put all politics aside for this,’’ he said.

Australian Education Union national president Correna Haythorpe said teachers already knew which students were struggling. “We don’t believe it’s necessary to have a standardised test for six-year-olds when they enter school. Our schools already assess their students and they are able to identify what those students need,’’ she said.

The panel recommended teachers be trained to deliver and interpret the results. It also said the assessment rollout should not place an undue burden on schools, teachers and students.