Qld Teachers Union says students have been severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

The Queensland Teachers Union is calling for the abolition of NAPLAN because of the impact on students impacted by the recent weather event. VOTE IN OUR POLL

The Queensland Teachers Union is calling for the abolition of NAPLAN, citing the “psychological and physical impact” on students impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

This year’s results would also be negatively affected, the powerful union has claimed.

The QTU has long opposed the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, urging teachers to boycott it since 2010 and on several occasions demanding it be dumped.

But on Wednesday, president Cresta Richardson said “now was the perfect time to scrap it.”

“The testing is stressful for students, not fit for purpose, and an out-of-date burden on a system that is chronically short of teachers already drowning in workload and red tape,” Ms Richardson said.

President of the Queensland Teachers' Union Cresta Richardson, Sunday, February 18, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

“Added to this is the psychological and physical impact on students and school communities affected by recent natural disasters.

“This year, the impact of Queensland’s natural disasters will affect results, with thousands of Queensland students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sitting NAPLAN testing today after missing days of regular lessons.”

Testing began on Wednesday (March 12) when 85 per cent of state schools had reopened, but Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said “the alternative NAPLAN window”, delaying testing until March 17, still applied to all impacted state, Catholic, and independent schools.

Principals have been put in charge of deciding when to hold the tests.

But Ms Richardson said the hardest hit schools would “scramble to reopen to sit tests next week”.

“With a new federal funding deal for Queensland state schools imminent, now is the perfect time to scrap the inconsistent, out of date and trouble riddled NAPLAN testing,” she said.

“The QTU is calling for a new model to be devised, developed and implemented with input from actual teachers and school leaders, recognising curriculum differences and the unique challenges that each different school community can experience.”

NAPLAN was introduced in 2008 and participation – which is voluntary – has declined in recent years.

Brisbane State High School, students (L-R) Lucy Choi-Lawrence, Nahla Aura, Sebastian Croke and Nikola Kastrissios at the school in South Brisbane. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Queensland’s results for reading and spelling went backwards in 2024 across all participating year levels compared to 2023.

The year 3 cohort ranked second worst in the nation for reading, ahead of only the Northern Territory.

Queensland’s year 9s had the largest number of students nationally to fail to sit the tests.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Qld Teachers Union says students have been severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred