Move to delete ethical principle

School test data protocols: change by ministers planned

Education ministers intend to omit an 'ethical principle' from protocols around reporting of school test data.

The Melbourne Age this morning reports that education ministers intend to omit an 'ethical principle' intended to avoid harm to members of the community in the reporting of school performance data.

According to the article, a new draft set of protocols being considered tomorrow by education ministers from across Australia omits the following clause which was adopted by ministers in July 2008:

'The avoidance of harm to members of the community: this could occur where the privacy of individuals would be compromised or where the reputation of an institution or group of people would be damaged through the publication of misleading information or stereotyping.'

Bob Lipscombe, President of the NSW Teachers Federation says:

"The Federation, along with fellow public and private school teacher unions, principals' and parents' groups across Australia, has grave concerns that the federal government�s intention to facilitate the publication of school performance 'league tables' will do untold harm to many students, schools and communities.

"The harm caused to students, school communities and the curriculum provision by league tables is already well-documented in research and evidence overseas."

"The omission of this principle will mean that the claim of federal minister Julia Gillard, and her state and territory counterparts that they oppose simplistic league tables is a sham. It is not only an admission that harm can be caused, but also that they are not prepared to take action to avoid it."

Link to the Melbourne Age story

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Last Modified: 11 Jun 2009