Literacy and numeracy report cards reveal strong standards maintained

9/12/07
The State Government today released the annual literacy and numeracy results for students in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine - revealing mainly consistent levels of achievement across the board.
Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (WALNA) and Monitoring Standards in Education Year Nine (MSE9) results for 2007 were now online and available to the public.
Mr McGowan, who released the results while officially launching the fifth annual Premier's Summer Reading Challenge, said they dispelled myths of falling literacy and numeracy standards in Western Australian schools.
"We already know from the latest global OECD testing results that WA's standards are among the highest in the world," he said.
"These new State-based results show that Western Australian students continue to perform at a very high level.
"While there are slight statistical variations, in general there has been maintenance of standards over time.
"The exception to this is the latest MSE9 results, which show a notable improvement in writing.
"There was a nine per cent jump in the percentage of public school students who met or exceeded the MSE9 standard in writing, from 51 per cent in 2006 to 60 per cent in 2007."
The Minister said more than 70,000 Year Three, Five and Seven students from all public, independent and Catholic primary schools across the State had taken part in the WALNA tests.
"Results from the WALNA testing show improvements have been made in some key areas and standards retained," he said.
"We hear a lot about the so-called 'decline' in literacy and numeracy of our students, but these results are clear proof that this is not the case.
"In fact, since testing began in 1998, school results have remained stable, despite very minor fluctuations from year to year which is to be expected.
"In 2007, there has been an improvement in Year Three reading, where the percentage of students who met or exceeded the benchmark moved from 93.7 per cent in 2006 to 95.2 per cent in 2007.
"There was also an improvement in Year Five reading. In the Year Five writing performance, the percentage of students who met or exceeded the benchmark increased from 84.7 per cent last year to 87.6 per cent this year.
"A higher percentage of Year Five students achieved the benchmarks in reading, writing and numeracy compared with previous years.
"The percentage of Year Seven students meeting the benchmarks in all areas has shown a stable trend over time."
Mr McGowan said the standards in MSE9 testing were not comparable with the WALNA benchmarks as they had deliberately been set higher.
"The testing for Year Nine students is set at a higher level than that for Year Seven students, which is set at a higher level than that for Year Five students and so on," he said.
"The tests are used as diagnostic tools to help schools identify strengths and weaknesses in individual student and class performance - the results should not be interpreted as a pass or fail.
"The results help teachers identify students who are struggling and those who could benefit from extension, so they can tailor-make learning programs to help them.
"While the overall results show most students are well on track, I am concerned about each student who has not met the benchmarks and every effort will be made to help them."
The Minister said the number of indigenous students sitting the tests was on the rise, but their performance was still a significant concern.
"Indigenous student performance is still far below other students in all areas. It is clear more needs to be done to help them catch up so they have the best possible opportunities for future education and employment," he said.
"Education of indigenous students cannot be improved in isolation. A holistic approach to addressing community issues which impact on indigenous students' participation in schooling is essential."
WALNA and MSE9 results are available on the Department of Education and Training's Schools website at http://www.det.wa.edu.au
In 2008, WA students will join a new national literacy and numeracy testing program, which will replace WALNA.
The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will test Year Three, Five, Seven and Nine students from throughout Australia on aspects of reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.
Click on PDF icon to view list.
Minister's office - 9222 9111