The performance of primary aged children in Australia seems to be closely tied to their parents’ educational background, with those whose parents hold a university qualification being significantly more likely to excel academically. In contrast, children whose parents did not finish high school are more likely to struggle to meet standards in reading and maths across various grade levels. Despite the significant amount of taxpayer spending on education, there has been little evidence of major improvement in student achievement levels.
The latest NAPLAN test results in NSW reveal that a large number of students are struggling in key areas such as reading, numeracy, grammar, and punctuation. A significant proportion of Indigenous students and those attending remote or outer regional schools are not meeting baseline standards in these subjects. However, there are some positive signs in writing assessment results, with 80% of year 3 children meeting basic standards.
The results of the NAPLAN tests come at a time when there is a bitter dispute between the states and Commonwealth over education funding as part of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. NSW Education Minister Prue Car has indicated that she will not sign a proposed deal unless the Commonwealth doubles its current funding offer. Proposed education reforms aim to reduce the proportion of students in the lowest NAPLAN band, increase those in the top band, and improve year 12 completion rates.
Experts have highlighted the stark gap between students whose parents hold a bachelor’s degree and those whose parents did not finish school, with the former group having a significant advantage in academic performance. The results of the NAPLAN tests reaffirm alarming findings from previous years and indicate the need for urgent action to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Setting long-term targets and ensuring all students have access to high-quality education will be crucial in addressing these disparities and improving overall student achievement levels.
While the NSW government acknowledges that students are generally performing well, there are clear gaps that require attention and intervention. The Minns Labor government has already begun efforts to rebuild public education, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that all students have the opportunity to excel academically. Addressing these challenges and improving educational outcomes for all students will require a collaborative effort between policymakers, educators, and the community.
