VCE students to get special consideration on results for 2021 lockdowns

Results relief is on the way for desperate VCE students after special consideration on their ATAR was locked in.

2 min read

July 23, 2021 - 9:33AM

VCE students want special consideration on their ATAR results in 2021. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Stressed senior students will be given special consideration and more time to prepare for the GAT as Covid lockdowns continue to wreak havoc on their studies.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process, which assisted last year’s VCE cohort, will once again continue for senior students this year.

The General Achievement Test (GAT), which was originally set to take place on June 9 and then moved to July 27, will once again be rescheduled to August 12 due to Victoria’s extended Covid-19 circuit-breaker lockdown.

Claudia Spurio received special consideration last year while studying VCE remotely during the long lockdown. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed desperate students had started a petition asking for additional cuts to the curriculum to alleviate the stress on students.

More than 200,000 Victorian students have lost up to 25 weeks of face-to-face learning – more than in any other state – since the start of the pandemic.

The special consideration process will include assessments of the individual impact of coronavirus on each student, including school closures, direct impacts on student’ health, ongoing issues with remote learning and mental health challenges.

In a normal year, individual students are assessed for special consideration on a case-by-case basis – but the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority will again use the CED process to finalise VCE results for each and every student completing one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3-4 sequence in 2021.

Mia Suda started a petition for special consideration for VCE students in 2021.

Morgan Vella says both VCE years have been interrupted for 2021 students. Picture: Facebook

The GAT, which is undertaken by all students enrolled in one or more VCE subjects, is a test of general knowledge and skills in written communication, mathematics, science and technology humanities, the arts and social sciences.

The rescheduling of the GAT will allow schools time to organise logistics and put COVIDSafe protocols in place to make sure students and staff can participate safely with minimal disruption to their assessments.

Education Minister James Merlino said Victorian students had done an amazing job adapting to another year of disruptions to their learning.

“We’re making sure every student is assessed individually and fairly in their final years of school,” Mr Merlino said.

“The Delta variant of coronavirus is causing uncertainty right around Australia – but we want to make sure every student knows that no matter how much they’re impacted by the pandemic, we’re supporting them to succeed in VCE and VCAL.”

Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said the VCE rescheduling and assessment considerations were greatly welcomed by the 2021 cohort.

“PV is pleased to see that the Victorian government, Department of Education and VCAA have taken this decision earlier than later to minimise any anxieties for families and their young people,” Ms McHardy said.

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Colin Axup said he welcomed the news of special consideration.

“It’s good recognition of the fact that the current Year 12 students had a challenging 18 months and consideration would be welcome,” Mr Axup said.