Barry O'Farrell MP
Acting Shadow Minister for Education
NSW students are continuing to fall behind in their numeracy skills while the State Labor Government simply continues to spin out of control, Barry O’Farrell, acting Shadow Minister for Education said today.
“The latest results of the Secondary Numeracy Assessment Program (SNAP) shows a steady decline in scores,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“Little wonder Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, released the report on the day Australia qualified for the next round of the World Cup!”
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“In almost all age groups tested, results have declined over the past twelve months.”
“This continues the decline, since 2002, of all average scores in the SNAP test for Year 7 and 8 students across the State.”
Mr O’Farrell said the SNAP results reinforced recent findings of the Productivity Commission and Audit Office.
“In January, the Productivity Commission identified that NSW lagged behind students in all states, except the Northern Territory, in numeracy exams.”
“It also highlighted that one in four NSW students failed to meet national numeracy benchmarks.”
“Last year the Auditor General’s found the State Government had spent $5 million less on numeracy and literacy programs in 2003-04 than in 2002-03.”
“These results show that, if you reduce funding, you affect students’ performance.”
Mr O’Farrell said Ms Tebbutt’s refusal to release the raw data underlying the SNAP tests raised suspicions about manipulation of results.
“Transparency demands the State Government release the raw data to enable objective, independent analysis of these test results.”
“NSW students, parents and teachers deserve better. But the situation won’t improve until facts replace spin,” Mr O’Farrell said.
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