Queensland to phase out QCAT
The Queensland Government has announced it will phase out the Queensland comparable Assessment Tasks (QCAT) by 2013 in a bid to ‘cut waste’ in the education sector.
QCATs have been the standards-based assessment tool used by state and some non-government schools since 2009.
State Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek, announced phasing out QCAT will save $3 million.
“The Newman Government is committed to ensuring Queensland students receive a quality education experience and by phasing out this test we will be able to save money and help reduce the debt legacy left by Labor,” Mr Langbroek said.
Mr Langbroek said that QCATs are now obsolete thanks to the introduction of the Australian Curriculum.
Mr Langbroek said the QCATs had been administered by the Queensland Studies Authority under a Memorandum of Understanding with Education Queensland which lapsed on 30 June 2012.