The Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) is an independent professional association dedicated to literacy and English language learning from early childhood through all stages of schooling and tertiary education contexts. ALEA recognises the critical role literacy plays in learning and communicating in all curriculum areas, and for effective participation in society.
Senate Inquiry into NAPLAN - ALEA Submission
ALEA has made a submission to the Senate Committee on Education and Employment Inquiry into the effectiveness of the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).
Here are some extracts from the Executive Summary of ALEA's submission. A copy of the full submission can be downloaded here.
One thing I never want to see happen is schools that are just teaching the test because then you’re not learning about the world, you’re not learning about different cultures, you’re not learning about science, you’re not learning about math…All you’re learning about is how to fill out a little bubble on an exam and little tricks that you need to do in order to take a test.
(Obama, 2011)
The Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) contends that continuing to emphasise and privilege such tests will diminish equity, access, participation and therefore social justice for the most vulnerable Australian children. Recent research and writing from similar educational initiatives in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America supports these assertions.
