NSW push to revert to pen-and-paper NAPLAN tests backed by experts
From 2028, the NSW government wants NAPLAN testing to be done with a pen and paper to help redress the nation's decline in writing skills.
The New South Wales government is advocating for a return to pen-and-paper writing tests in NAPLAN, the national assessment for Australian students. Currently, only Year 3 students complete the writing test on paper, while older students take it online. The proposal to revert NAPLAN writing tests to pen and paper was presented at today's national meeting of education ministers.
Experts argue that handwriting is crucial for learning and memory retention. Education experts, including University of Sydney's Marian Vidal-Fernandez and Edith Cowan University's Anabela Malpique, have also backed the move. They believe that testing students in the same manner they work in class would benefit the average student.
Online testing began in 2018 to provide more precise results and faster turnaround times, but experts contend that the shift led to a decline in writing skills and prolonged technology use in schools. While the cost of marking handwritten papers could be a barrier, experts suggest AI tools may help read handwritten work with human verification for unclear results.
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