Primary teachers to be surveyed on BST

By Jennifer Leete

A large number of primary teachers, primary principals and parents of primary students will shortly receive surveys asking for their feedback on a number of issues related to the Basic Skills Tests.

These surveys are part of a review of the NSW Assessment (for that read "testing") program which the Minister has engaged Professor George Cooney of Macquarie University to conduct (Education, October 24). The review comes about because of the imposition of Federal Government requirements for testing at years 3, 5, 7 and 9 with the aim of developing national testing.

Primary teachers will be asked to rate how useful the information they receive from the Basic Skills Tests, in relation to individual students, is in a range of areas such as identifying areas in which the teacher can help an individual student to improve and whether these tests provide information about an individual student's progress that the teacher cannot get in another way.

Federation, along with the principals' organisations and the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, is represented on a reference group which is advising Professor Cooney on the review.

Members should be assured that all survey responses are being treated confidentially and professionally and should have no concerns about responding. Participation is, of course, voluntary.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

For further information

November 2005 contents