7 Apr 2009

Too much haste over school standards system, say principals

10:48 pm on 7 April 2009

The Principals Federation is concerned at the rate at which the Government is pushing through its plan to have national standards for primary school children.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has released details of a five-week public consultation on the standards, which are to be used by primary and intermediate schools from next year.

They will use a mix of assessment tools already used in schools.

Principals Federation vice-president Peter Simpson says schools are worried the Government is acting with undue haste.

Ms Tolley says feedback she has had from parents is that the sooner the policy is implemented, the better.

The minister says the Government's plan to take a nation-wide measure of primary school children's achievement will not include a single national test.

Ms Tolley says she keeps having to offer this reassurance because former education minister Chris Carter is deliberately putting out misinformation about the policy.

Mr Carter says his warning that national standards could lead to a testing regime are justified, particularly in view of the ACT party's policy, which he says includes national testing.