Tasmania’s literacy and numeracy performance in NAPLAN needs improvement

After a decade of testing, Tasmania’s literacy and numeracy results remain below the national average — and they are improving at a slower rate — the latest NAPLAN results show.

AFTER a decade of testing, Tasmania’s literacy and numeracy results remain below the national average — and they are improving at a slower rate — the latest NAPLAN results show.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff in 2017 said the Hodgman Government had a goal of being at or above the national average on all NAPLAN measures by 2020.

Today, the final 2018 NAPLAN report reveals Tasmania’s students, while improving in some disciplines, are continuing to languish behind mainland counterparts.

Tasmania was below the national average in most grades tested in the report — which also showed 2018’s writing results across the country were the lowest overall since tests began.

Among the results:

AVERAGE scores for Tasmanian Year 3 students were significantly below the national average scale scores in spelling, grammar and punctuation.

NUMERACY has improved at around the same rate as in other states for Years 3, 5, and 7, but Tasmanian Year 9 students are improving at a rate significantly slower than their peers.

THERE were only moderate increases in reading scores for Year 5 Tasmanian students between 2008 and 2018.

“The Government is investing in a range of key literacy and numeracy initiatives to drive improvement in student outcomes, including the recruitment of 250 additional teachers,” a State Government spokesman said.

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The standardised national testing has been controversial since it was introduced by the Gillard government in 2007.

Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Nigel Jones said he supported NAPLAN but there was “a lot of work that needed to be done”.

“There is a whole range of other aspects of education that NAPLAN doesn’t consider,” Mr Jones said.

“I think there are so many talented kids and these results aren’t always a clear indication of where the child is at and how well the student is performing.”

Australian Primary Principals Association President Malcolm Elliott said there was a need to review NAPLAN.

“After 10 years of testing we’re seeing a flatlining of data and as with any system that’s a decade old, it’s worth having a look into it,” he said.

Mr Elliott said a student’s socio-economic status also should be taken into consideration.