AEU lifts moratorium on NAPLAN tests

AUSTRALIA – The Federal Executive of the Australian Education Union (AEU) has resolved to lift the moratorium on the administration of the NAPLAN tests.

AEU federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said the decision followed an offer by the education minister ­Julia Gillard to form a working party of educational experts, including representatives of the AEU, to provide advice on the use of student performance data and other indicators of school effectiveness.

That advice and the further development of the My School website by ACARA will be in line with the commitments of the Federal Government which include “an opposition to the misuse of student performance data including simplistic league tables”.

“The working party will provide a way to advance and address the profession’s educational concerns relating to the misuse of student test data including school league tables,” Mr Gavrielatos said.

“It will also provide an opportunity for teachers and principals to engage in a genuine dialogue with the government on a sound approach to school accountability and improving results.

“Our focus has always been on trying to ensure that data is not misused in ways that are damaging to students and schools.”