The 2019 NAPLAN National Report has shown significant long-term gains Northern Territory-wide, along with some excellent short-term improvements by remote Aboriginal students.
The report, released today, shows the Northern Territory last year achieved stronger gains than the national average, particularly in Years 3 and 5.
When compared to the base year, 2008, Year 3 students across the Territory have made significant improvements in reading, spelling and grammar.
When the data is disaggregated, the long-term results show Year 3 Aboriginal students have also made long-term improvements in reading, grammar and punctuation.
The 2019 NAPLAN National Report provides the final data from the testing undertaken by students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN tests a student's ability in five domains, including reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation, numeracy and writing.
The NAPLAN National report reveals significant increases in 2019 compared to the previous year for:
- Outer regional Year 3 students for writing
- Very remote Aboriginal students for writing in years 3, 5 and 9
- Year 3 non-Aboriginal students for writing
- Very remote Aboriginal Year 3 students for reading, and for grammar and punctuation.
- Year 3 Aboriginal students for grammar and punctuation
- Year 9 very remote Aboriginal students for spelling
Long-term NT NAPLAN achievement trends from 2008 to 2019 show significant increases in:
- Year 3 reading, and grammar and punctuation NT wide
- Year 3 Aboriginal students in reading, and grammar and punctuation.
- Year 3 non-Aboriginal students in reading, spelling, and grammar and punctuation.
- Year 5 non-Aboriginal students in reading, spelling and numeracy
- Year 7 non-Aboriginal students in spelling
Approximately 13,500 NT students sat NAPLAN tests in 2019, including 4650 who sat the test online.
The 2019 NAPLAN Report is available in full here: https://www.nap.edu.au/results-and-reports/national-reports
As stated by Minister for Education, Selena Uibo.
"The Territory Labor Government has made it a priority to reinvest in our children and our schools, after the CLP slashed $135 million from the education budget.
"We acknowledge there is still a lot of work still to be done, however these pleasing 2019 NAPLAN results show that investment is yielding results.
"We have delivered successive record education budgets over the past three years and are delivering on our promise to reinstate the 164 teacher positions cut by the CLP.
"The significant improvements in our Years 3 and 5 cohorts are testament to our investment in early childhood, particularly in remote communities, as we know that establishing regular attendance patterns in the early years is critical to improving a child's success at school and into adulthood.
"We are investing to expand our Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program from 27 sites to 47, with a further six to commence this year, and are increasing our Child and Family Centres from six to 11.
"The Northern Territory can have the most improved education system in the country and the 2019 NAPLAN results are an encouraging sign that improvement is happening."
