Government Called on to Defer Testing in Public Schools

Unions Tasmania

Tasmanian Branch of the ACTU

Media Release Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Government Called on to Defer Testing in Public Schools

Unions Tasmania today called on the Tasmanian government to defer Naplan testing in public schools and to use its best endeavours to influence the federal government to give genuine consideration to the ideas for improving the system put forward by the education unions and, in particular, to protect the Naplan data from misuse in the form of media generated league tables.

While the testing is important, it is also important the professional integrity and purpose of the testing be maintained. The federal government has the capacity to make the adjustments required to achieve this.

Secretary of Unions Tasmania, Simon Cocker said:

“Testing in public schools should be deferred until these issues have been dealt with and I call on the Premier to use his influence with the federal Minister to ensure meaningful negotiations occur to resolve the issues.”

“It is clear that there are deeply felt professional concerns at stake and it is appropriate that the government respects those concerns by engaging in genuine negotiations.”

“Nobody wins when these numbers that reflect only part of a school’s output become media sport.”
Simon cocker, Unions Tasmania