Online testing for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, which was due to be trialled in Western Australia this year, has been delayed until 2018.

Testing of the NAPLAN Online platform during the school holidays identified issues that could impact on students’ ability to complete the tests. Following identification of those issues, it was decided that the 99 schools participating in the trial, 11 of which are Catholic Education Western Australia schools, will now take paper-based tests when testing begins in May this year.

Education and Training Minister, Sue Ellery said “the advice I have received means I am no longer prepared to commit Western Australian students to participate in NAPLAN Online in 2017.

“My primary concern is to ensure students are able to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills without experiencing IT issues. We will work closely with our partners across Australia to ensure a successful rollout in 2018 and 2019.”

Schools across Australia are expected to be completely rolled over to NAPLAN Online testing by 2019.

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