Education commission backs assessment overhaul.
THE Queensland Catholic Education Commission has welcomed the Queensland Government’s confirmation that a new system of senior assessment will be introduced in schools from 2018.
Education Minister Kate Jones announced last Monday Labor was proceeding with the new system proposed by the former Liberal National Party government.
Ms Jones said the OP system would be replaced by the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank system, in line with other Australian states and territories.
QCEC executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry said the Catholic sector supported the model of assessment proposed, balancing school-based and external modes.
“While the existing system has served us well, and will continue to do so during the transition phase, the Catholic sector agrees that the time is right to move towards replacing the OP score and QCS test mechanisms,” she said.
“A model incorporating elements of both school-based and external assessment will provide a sound basis for the future.”
Dr Perry said the timeline for the reforms – not to be introduced before 2018 for students entering Year 11 in that year – was sensible.
“This will enable students to plan their senior pathways and allow adequate time for teachers and schools to prepare for implementation of the new model,” she said.
Dr Perry said a well-resourced implementation process would also be critical to the success of the change.
“School communities, along with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), should be adequately resourced by the Queensland Government to take the lead in implementing the new model, with a strong focus on supporting the teaching profession,” she said. Dr Perry said it was also vital that schooling authorities participated in decision-making processes with universities and the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre, to consider how tertiary admissions rankings would be derived from senior subject results.
“The development of a tertiary admissions ranking system can have a significant backwash effect on schools, particularly by influencing the subject choices students make to gain access to tertiary courses,” she said.
“We particularly welcome the establishment of a Ministerial Taskforce with representation from schooling sectors to develop an understanding of the flow-on effects between tertiary selection processes and senior schooling.”
Dr Perry said the Catholic sector had worked closely with the review process to date and looked forward to further opportunities to engage as details of the new system were developed.
Supportive: Dr Lee-Anne Perry
