Page 4718 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 19 October 2011
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Australian Capital Territory has in performing very well in these national tests since their implementation in 2008. Once again, ACT students have outdone their Australian counterparts across all of the domains that were tested. It is very clear that across all schools—public, Catholic and independent—the education system is performing well. Students are being equipped with vital literacy and numeracy skills that will enable them to further develop their education as they move through our excellent system.
It is not just the students who should be congratulated. Parents should be congratulated for their ongoing involvement in their children’s education and for engaging in their school communities. Teachers and principals should be thanked for their significant contribution towards the education of young Canberrans. It is the programs and classes implemented across the school system that have contributed to such strong results for the ACT.
It is no surprise to me that ACT students are performing so well. Only a few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of attending Red Hill primary school, part of the year 4 students’ inquiry into civics and citizenship. I must observe that an hour’s questioning from year 4 students does provide a refreshing insight into the sorts of issues that really matter and perhaps does contrast greatly with an hour’s questioning in this place.
Mr Speaker, the most important part of the NAPLAN testing is the data that comes from the results. The results provide parents with feedback on their son’s or daughter’s strengths and weaknesses. The results allow schools, the education directorate and, indeed, government at both the territory and national levels to target new resources into education and training and to fix areas of weakness. This is aimed at improving the educational outcomes of all students in the ACT. The data provides us with information about how education programs are working and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement.
There are improvements in many different categories for ACT students in the 2011 NAPLAN data. It is important to note, though, that with ACT scores as high as they are, it does provide a challenge for the education system to find new and innovative ways to improve those outstanding results, but try we do, Mr Speaker. That is why in recent budgets the government has invested in a range of programs to enhance performance in literacy and numeracy.
This initiative included the appointment of specialist literacy and numeracy teachers within the public system, known as field officers. These targeted investments have been focused on building teacher capacity and improving student outcomes in literacy and numeracy. In 2011 a total of 21 field officers are continuing to work across the ACT public school system. The strategy has particularly focused on the expansion of the u-can read program to develop a strong research focus, to deliver professional learning to teachers and to build even stronger partnerships within schools.
Mr Speaker, the government intends to build on these education reforms through the development of further enhanced career paths for teachers and school leavers. This is about maximising teacher effectiveness. There are countless pieces of research that
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