Exams can and are a useful tool, if they help us understand which and why some students are falling behind and need some additional help to avoid falling behind?
Which by the way, can have whole of life consequences and or quite negative outcomes!
I'm not sure that the NAPLAN test will do much more than encourage some teachers and students to cheat or fudge the test, or data producing results?
I mean, some teachers will surely coach their students to simply pass the test, rather than concentrate on the real job of educators?
This sort of stuff is retained only long enough to pass the test?
In one ear and out the other?
[Nothing in between to stop it, I hear you say?]
I think it would be a useful exercise, if the Gunski report could be fully adopted first, so at least the most disadvantaged schools, could reasonably approach their NAPLAN responsibilities, on an equal footing with the more advantaged and or better resourced schools?
Lets not get the cart before the horse, [Albeit, it's a good way to go backwards,] just for the purpose of political expediency?
Rhrosty.