Originally Posted by
Blue Skies
I think you've misunderstood. The NCEA tests are designed to test Reading, Writing & Maths levels, not fluency & familiarity with digital devices.
Since the tests are online & often require repeated scrolling up & down from question to answer, students who haven't had access to digital devices, who are suddenly presented with a test on a desktop, PDA or Tablet or iPad, are seriously disadvantaged & their results may not be a true indication of their reading writing or maths level.
There's plenty of adults who if they use macOS and then asked to do something on Windows, struggle with the alternative operating system, so imagine a year 10 student who has had little access to a digital device suddenly presented with a test on one. These students may do better with pen & paper.
It was an independent report so its silly to blame the govt & no need to get incredibly angry.
They just want a clear picture of these specific levels & there should/could be a seperate test for digital literacy.
Incidentally, despite the catastrophising of our education system, NZ is ahead of countries like Australia, UK & US in either writing or reading, and the US & UK have the top universities in the world.
Always aim for improvement but there's so much hyperbole in some quarters, we lose perspective.