New SA maths strategy flagged after NAPLAN results
The state government says it will introduce a new “Mathematics Improvement Strategy” – which could include a numeracy check for students – to improve maths skills in South Australian schools after NAPLAN results showed a marginal decline in numeracy scores.
Photo: Dan Peled/AAP
Results from this year’s NAPLAN tests, released today, show the percentage of South Australian students at or above the minimum national standard for numeracy has declined marginally when compared to 2021.
SA year 7s recorded the biggest decrease, dropping from 92.6 per cent at or above standard in 2021 to 90.6 per cent in 2022.
Year 3s dropped from 94.7 per cent to 94 per cent, Year 5s from 94.4 per cent to 94.1 per cent and Year 9s from 93.8 per cent to 93.5 per cent.
A graph showing the mean NAPLAN results in South Australia for numeracy. Graph: NAPLAN
However, all assessed year levels in SA – except year 7 – recorded a higher percentage above minimum standard than measured in 2008 (the first year NAPLAN was introduced).
The Malinauskas Government highlighted that SA improved on 14 out of 20 measures when compared to the first year of NAPLAN testing in 2008.
Literacy skills were also largely improved when compared to 2021, with average reading scores improving for years 3, 5 and 9, while minimum national standard percentages were largely steady.
Average scores for the writing test also improved across all four year levels in SA.
A graph showing the mean NAPLAN results in South Australia for writing. Graph: NAPLAN
Overall, compared to 2021, mean scores for South Australia increased in eight measures, decreased in 11 and remained unchanged in one.
Education Minister Blair Boyer said despite the positive literacy results, there was a “clear need” for a new Mathematics Improvement Strategy to tackle the fall in numeracy scores.
“As Education Minister, my ambition is for NAPLAN to be only one of many tools that schools can use to best support each individual student to improve,” he said in a statement today.
“It’s pleasing to see that South Australia’s NAPLAN results have seen strong improvement over time. This is testament to the fantastic work teachers do every day educating students.
“However, the results do show that numeracy results are falling. There is a clear need to act to address this issue, which is why we’re implementing the Mathematics Improvement Strategy.”
The state government said a numeracy check for students will be considered as part of the strategy.
The Education Department is set to begin consultation on the improvement strategy with teachers and principals, with an inaugural “Numeracy Summit” to be held with school leaders in March 2023.
More than 79,000 students from 714 South Australian schools undertook the NAPLAN this year.
