May 05, 2010

Parents and Citizens 'assured NAPLAN tests will proceed'

http://www.abc.net.au/news

The  Queensland Teachers Union will press ahead with a ban on supervising the  tests in defiance of an Industrial Relations Commission order.


The Queensland Teachers Union will press ahead with a ban on supervising the tests in defiance of an Industrial Relations Commission order.

Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Associations (QCPCA) say they have been assured by the State Government that NAPLAN (national assessment program - literacy and numeracy) testing will go ahead next week.

The Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) will press ahead with a ban on supervising the tests in defiance of an Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) order.

QCPCA spokeswoman Margaret Black says while she is not getting involved in the stalemate, she shares teachers' concerns about the use of NAPLAN results to rank schools.

But she says Education Queensland (EQ) has a contingency plan.

"In conversation with the Minister today, he has assured me that the tests will go ahead and we are calling on Julia Gillard to let common sense prevail here," she said

State Education Minister Geoff Wilson is yet to comment publicly on the QTU's decision.