Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Ministers statements: education system

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:22): I rise to update the house on how well Victorian students have done in this year’s NAPLAN results – top of the nation. Victoria has ranked either first or second in 16 out of 20 NAPLAN domains, higher than any other state or territory. This government has invested $31 billion in Victorian schools, teachers and students, and this investment is supporting the ongoing academic outcomes and improvements in this state. Victoria leads the nation in primary reading, with more than 70 per cent of our year 3 students in that category and nearly 80 per cent of our year 5 students in the strong or exceeding proficiency levels. In addition to our high achievers, Victoria has either the lowest or second-lowest proportion of students needing additional support in all 20 domains.

We know that there will always be more work to do, and to make sure no student gets left behind we will continue the unrelenting focus that we have had on students who need additional support, whether that be through our tutor learning initiatives or in our new programs that are rolling out across our schools in mental health and wellbeing, which play a really important role in ensuring all students can achieve their potential when they are at school. Earlier this year the opposition spokesman for education in the other place wrote ‘most monkeys can read better than Victorian primary students’. Whilst they continue to disparage our hardworking teachers and students here in Victoria, we will continue to be proud of what our achievements are and the extraordinary efforts of our students.