The Western Australian Government has announced it will introduce a minimum literacy and numeracy assessment in year 10 from 2014 onwards.

 

Premier Colin Barnett said that the State’s students would be supported to meet the minimum standards by the time they graduate.

 

“The community has a right to expect that students will leave school with a minimum level of literacy and numeracy that meets the demands of everyday life,” Mr Barnett said.

 

“The State Government has listened to tertiary educators, training providers and employers, who have told us that more can be done to ensure school-leavers are better equipped to pursue further education or enter the workforce. These reforms will do that.

 

State Education Minister, Peter Collier, said the changes would also see students required to achieve an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or a minimum Certificate II in training programs to graduate.

 

The Minister said under the reforms, Stage 1, 2 and 3 courses would be removed and replaced with new, simplified year 11 and year 12 General and ATAR courses. He said this would encourage students to meet their maximum potential.