2015-10-20
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — My question is to the Minister for Training and Skills in his capacity as representing the Minister for Education. It relates to the management, delivery and implementation of the national assessment program — literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN) in Victoria. Contract CR32837 on the Department of Treasury and Finance website lists NCS Pearson as supplier of a range of services to the department with regard to NAPLAN, including data capture and marking. Pearson also sells teaching resources related to NAPLAN. Can the minister advise whether NCS Pearson is the sole supplier in Victoria of the 11 NAPLAN services listed on the Department of Treasury and Finance website under its contract?
Mr HERBERT (Minister for Training and Skills) — I cannot, but I shall look into NCS Pearson. What I can say is that in terms of NAPLAN there is an agreement between the commonwealth and every state for financial contributions to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to basically design and administer the annual NAPLAN tests. That has been going on for some time. The latest agreement and memorandum of understanding was in 2013.
In each state there is a test administration authority, I think it is called. In Victoria it is the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). Other states have different arrangements. In New South Wales it was the department, but I understand it is now the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW. They are basically contracted to run the NAPLAN — to design it, to administer it — and from 2017 to administer an online NAPLAN test rather than a paper one. I can advise that. I cannot advise details of NCS Pearson and whether there is a relationship there with ACARA, but I will get back to the member on that one.
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — On the DTF website it says NCS Pearson is contracted to the department of education with a $7 million-plus contract. Under the contract NCS Pearson supplies services including web-based test administration, production of guides, data capture, online marking and editing of test books, marking of objective test items and distribution of reporting packages to schools. Clearly it has access to a great deal of information. Pearson's website lists a range of commercial products as 'Effective teaching resources' under the heading 'NAPLAN preparation'. Can the minister advise whether any of these commercial products have been purchased by Victorian public schools?
Mr HERBERT (Minister for Training and Skills) — I shall take that on. As I say, I am familiar with the contractual arrangements through ACARA and I know that the VCAA has some other work contracted out with ACARA — for instance, the national curriculum work; I think the language component is still an active part of that contractual arrangement — and it does things such as contract it to look at work sampling and that sort of thing. But with regard to NCS Pearson, I shall get back to the member on that one.