❓ Question regarding concerning NAPLAN results in WA, particularly in year 3, and the government's response including funding agreements and reforms to improve literacy and numeracy.
AnsweredQoN 551Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NAPLAN
RESULTS
551. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Education:
The latest NAPLAN results
revealed that one in three WA students struggle to read, write and solve
problems at their year level. With WA teachers leaving in droves from
the public education system and about 45 000 students across the state who are not on track with their
learning, what is the government doing to improve those concerning results ?
RESULTS
551. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Education:
The latest NAPLAN results
revealed that one in three WA students struggle to read, write and solve
problems at their year level. With WA teachers leaving in droves from
the public education system and about 45 000 students across the state who are not on track with their
learning, what is the government doing to improve those concerning results ?
AnswerView source ↗
The NAPLAN results, as the member
knows, came out two days ago. The member did not give a full picture there. In
regard to year 9, we are leading the nation. We are leading the nation for year
9. Year 3 is obviously the major concern—it is the main concern across
Australia. We are no different; that is a major area of concern across
Australia. As the member would know, this is the second year of the new NAPLAN
standards, which is more of a merit-based standard rather than a comparative
standard. Although comparisons can be made, one should be a little bit
conservative in making broad comparisons. We need to work on this over the next
few years. On the new scale there are four
standards, whereas previously we had 10 band levels. It is much better under
the new system .
The
percentage of Western Australian students meeting the higher expectation of ''exceeding''
and ''strong'' combined proficiency levels is above
Australian percentages for all year 9 domains; year 7 spelling, grammar and
punctuation and numeracy; and year 5 spelling. I will not deny that year 3 is a
concern, but, as I said, it is a concern for every jurisdiction of Australia.
However, for year 9 we are above the Australian average. In year 7 we are above
in spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy, and in year 5 we are above
in spelling.
The member asked what we are doing.
We are doing many things. We have the on-entry phonics checks in the first year
and the quality teaching strategy. We have been working with the commonwealth
on a new funding agreement that will bring an additional $1.6 billion into the
education system of Western Australia over five years, over and above normal funding. When we sign the final agreement, we will
be the first state to do so and the second jurisdiction. The other
jurisdiction that has done so is the Northern Territory. It did so before the
government went into caretaker mode.
I am in complete agreement with the
federal Minister for Education, Hon Jason Clare, who said that the increased funding
will be attached to reforms. Those reforms will go towards improving students'
numeracy and literacy, because we will be
engaging in small class tutoring, which is also part of the new EBA. We will
ensure that we have the proper phonics testing enhanced and also
numeracy testing. We are looking at supporting the wellbeing of students and
the wellbeing and retention of teachers. We are doing far more than the other
side ever did—ever did—in this space, and we are doing far more
than most of Australia.
knows, came out two days ago. The member did not give a full picture there. In
regard to year 9, we are leading the nation. We are leading the nation for year
9. Year 3 is obviously the major concern—it is the main concern across
Australia. We are no different; that is a major area of concern across
Australia. As the member would know, this is the second year of the new NAPLAN
standards, which is more of a merit-based standard rather than a comparative
standard. Although comparisons can be made, one should be a little bit
conservative in making broad comparisons. We need to work on this over the next
few years. On the new scale there are four
standards, whereas previously we had 10 band levels. It is much better under
the new system .
The
percentage of Western Australian students meeting the higher expectation of ''exceeding''
and ''strong'' combined proficiency levels is above
Australian percentages for all year 9 domains; year 7 spelling, grammar and
punctuation and numeracy; and year 5 spelling. I will not deny that year 3 is a
concern, but, as I said, it is a concern for every jurisdiction of Australia.
However, for year 9 we are above the Australian average. In year 7 we are above
in spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy, and in year 5 we are above
in spelling.
The member asked what we are doing.
We are doing many things. We have the on-entry phonics checks in the first year
and the quality teaching strategy. We have been working with the commonwealth
on a new funding agreement that will bring an additional $1.6 billion into the
education system of Western Australia over five years, over and above normal funding. When we sign the final agreement, we will
be the first state to do so and the second jurisdiction. The other
jurisdiction that has done so is the Northern Territory. It did so before the
government went into caretaker mode.
I am in complete agreement with the
federal Minister for Education, Hon Jason Clare, who said that the increased funding
will be attached to reforms. Those reforms will go towards improving students'
numeracy and literacy, because we will be
engaging in small class tutoring, which is also part of the new EBA. We will
ensure that we have the proper phonics testing enhanced and also
numeracy testing. We are looking at supporting the wellbeing of students and
the wellbeing and retention of teachers. We are doing far more than the other
side ever did—ever did—in this space, and we are doing far more
than most of Australia.
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