Education Minister sends her best wishes to students for NAPLAN

Education Minister Grace Grace has wished all participating students the best of luck while they sit NAPLAN tests over the next two weeks. "I send my best wishes to around 279,000 Queensland students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across 1,773 schools who will sit the test this year online," Minister Grace said. "My advice for students is to relax, stay calm and simply do your best. "It hasn't been an easy time for our students, but our NAPLAN results last year held up well despite everything COVID has thrown at us. "Schools and students have shown time and time again how resilient they are. "Compared with other parts of the world – and indeed Australia – Queensland students have spent a very small amount of time away from schools and learning. "For large periods of 2021, Queensland was the only jurisdiction on the eastern seaboard where schools were fully open." Ms Grace said NAPLAN is a broad-based test that assesses reading, writing, conventions of language and numeracy skills. "Teachers work incredibly hard ensuring that students are well prepared by focusing on teaching the curriculum every day," Ms Grace said. "They also ensure that students are familiar with the test format and provide appropriate support and guidance. "As always, I urge all students who sit the test to relax and to embrace the day as a positive learning experience – I know you will all do your best. "It's also important to remember that NAPLAN is not the be-all and end-all. "It's just one of many ways that schools and teachers track student progress and identify where additional support is required." Ms Grace said parents should feel assured that the great work students and teachers do every day in the classroom prepares students well for the tests. "All of our teachers work very hard to support their students' wellbeing and learning, to help them reach their ultimate potential," she said. "I thank our hardworking teachers for your work teaching essential literacy and numeracy skills to our students. "I'd also like to acknowledge our parents, carers and the wider school community for their support as we work together educating Queensland's adults of tomorrow." NAPLAN testing will take place throughout Australia from 10 - 20 May, with the 9-school-day testing window allowing schools some scheduling flexibility. F