State Government keeps TCE testing fiasco report under wraps

The State Government is refusing to release a report into last year’s TCE results fiasco.

THE State Government is refusing to release a report into last year’s TCE results fiasco.

The inquiry was called after Tasmania’s class of 2018 had its final exam marks recalled and reissued in the space of 12 hours in December.

The rankings for 2215 students had to be recalculated and re-sent — with those most affected being students studying in the University of Tasmania’s High Achiever Program and University Connections Program.

STUDENTS LEFT FUMING AFTER ERROR

The Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification chief Katrina Beams apologised for the mistake, which she blamed on a procedural error in the uploading of the scores into the data system.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced an inquiry into the stuff-up.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff announded an inquiry after Tasmania’s class of 2018 had its final exam marks recalled and reissued in the space of 12 hours in December. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

That inquiry has been completed by consultants KPMG, but a government spokesman declined to release the report nor its recommendations.

“Recommendations arising from the audit included greater automation of data management and strengthened data validation processes,” the spokesman said.

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“TASC is working with the department to ensure prompt and effective implementation of the recommendations.”

Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said it was disappointing that the report was not being made public to provide a full explanation of what had gone wrong.

“I think it’s another hidden report from a secretive government that continually hides behind government spokespeople rather than ministers accepting responsibility,” he said.

“After last year’s fiasco that left students distraught there’s no reason this report shouldn’t be released.

“For current Tas students to have confidence in this year’s end-of-year results and processes, the report should be released and the Government should outline how the recommendations are being addressed.”

The Government has been criticised by a Legislative Council Committee for sitting on a KPMG report into the state’s health system. The report is understood to identify a persistent $100 million “structural deficit” in health funding.

Its release has been blocked under Right to Information laws and Health Minister Michael Ferguson has said releasing it would discourage advisers from giving advice “on a frank and fearless basis”.