Sun Sep 15 00:51:46 UTC 2024: ## Perth School’s NAPLAN Medal Ceremony Sparks Debate

**Perth, Western Australia:** A decision by Palmyra Primary School to award medals to students who excelled in their NAPLAN tests has sparked debate among parents and educators. The school held a special assembly in August where students were presented with medallions and certificates for their high scores in the national literacy and numeracy tests.

While some parents welcomed the recognition of their children’s achievements, others expressed concerns about the focus on individual results. One father, who remained anonymous, stated that he found the awards ceremony “a bit bizarre,” emphasizing that NAPLAN results are meant to be reported to schools and parents, not celebrated with public awards.

The Education Minister, Tony Buti, distanced himself from the event, stating that schools are best placed to decide their own activities. He also stressed that NAPLAN tests are just one part of a comprehensive assessment process and should be viewed accordingly.

The WA Primary Principals Association president, Niel Smith, echoed the sentiment, stating that giving out awards for NAPLAN is not standard practice and could potentially inflate its importance.

However, Associate Professor Jayanta Sarkar from Queensland University of Technology, highlighted the potential benefits of incentivizing students with rewards. His study found that rewarding Year 7 students with canteen vouchers for reaching personal goals on their NAPLAN tests increased their motivation. He believes that this approach could be particularly effective for younger students, motivating them to try harder on low-stakes tests like NAPLAN.

The Education Department South Metropolitan regional director, Sue Cuneo, confirmed that Palmyra’s decision to award NAPLAN medals will be reviewed next year. The school, which celebrates student achievements across various areas, decided to recognize top performers in both the Progressive Achievement Test and NAPLAN for the first time this year.

The debate surrounding Palmyra Primary’s decision highlights the ongoing discussion about the purpose and value of NAPLAN. While the tests provide valuable national data on student performance, the question of how to best use this information and what constitutes appropriate recognition remains a topic of ongoing discussion within the education community.

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