The CEO of the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Stephen Gniel has spoken out against the use of NAPLAN results as an entrance assessment by private schools and select-entry government schools. ACARA designs and administers NAPLAN across Australia.
In an article in today’s Age, Mr Gniel is quoted as saying:
“I think it is horrendous, and it’s a complete misuse of the assessment. It’s not one of the purposes and therefore the test is not designed as an entrance exam and shouldn’t be used as such. I would encourage parents not to provide that to schools that might ask for it as an entry requirement. By all means provide it once the student is enrolled.”
The article also says that Mr Gniel, “asked parents not to put pressure on youngsters to perform.” According to the article, “The emphasis on the national testing has fuelled a competitive culture that is driving some parents to employ tutors in the hope of boosting their child’s results, but Gniel said this “constant drilling on NAPLAN-sort of tests is ill-advised and somewhat futile”.