Year 5 NAPLAN writing test to switch to paper from 2028
Education ministers have agreed to replace the online writing assessment, while a decision on years 7 and 9 remains outstanding.
Australia's education ministers have agreed to move the year 5 NAPLAN writing assessment off computers from 2028, with students instead completing it using pen and paper.
NSW Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car is seeking the same change for writing assessments in years 7 and 9. Ministers have not decided on those year levels, and the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), which runs NAPLAN, will advise them. The year 3 writing assessment already uses paper.
Car said the change reflected evidence that children learn better when writing by hand rather than typing. She said a paper assessment would also require classrooms to devote more time to handwriting instead of computer use.
The minister said federal, state and territory ministers had also agreed to begin work on reducing classroom screen use. NSW will introduce mandatory limits from 2028, phased across schooling from preschool through to year 12.
Parent campaign group Heads Up Alliance welcomed the proposed NAPLAN changes and NSW screen limits. Its founder, Dany Elachi, urged ministers to take further steps to address declining educational standards.
