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About 140 students, across nine schools, were learning about the Roman emperor Augustus instead of Julius Caesar before their external exams this week, as Queensland’s education minister blamed the debacle on the public authority in charge of testing.
Of the nine schools, Brisbane State High was the first to be identified as incorrectly teaching two classes of year 12 ancient history students the incorrect content.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek told media on Wednesday morning he acknowledged the error, uncovered days before the test that afternoon, would be “extremely traumatic” for students.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek: “I would not expect any student to do an exam after they’ve received lectures or information about something that they’ve had two days’ notice for.”Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
He said an investigation would be done, noting that communication between the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and schools had “obviously been not carried out appropriately”.
The minister said the QCAA would be appropriately resourced in the future to make sure the issue was not repeated.
The schools affected are:
- Brisbane State High School
- Flagstone State Community College
- Meridan State College
- Redcliffe State High School
- Yeronga State High School
- St Teresa’s Catholic College at Noosaville
- West Moreton Anglican College
- James Nash State High School
- Kuranda District State College
Langbroek said it had not happened in any other subject. He said he accepted there was no way as a senior student that he would be expected to learn a semester’s worth of work in a couple of days.
“What we’ve done is tried to make sure that we identify which schools are affected ... and then provide the reassurance that senior students will need,” he said.
“I would not expect any student to do an exam after they’ve received lectures or information about something that they’ve had two days’ notice for.”
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He said students’ previous assessment results would be scaled up to account for the bungle on the ancient history exam.
“I’m very unhappy about the situation developing as it has and for the stress that it will have caused for everyone,” Langbroek said.
The minister added he would look at the make-up of the QCAA board, “which has already had some changes over the last six months and since we came to government over the last year”.
He noted “communication issues in the past, especially around the time of the ex-tropical cyclone Alfred”.
“I’ll be making sure that the make-up of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority is [appropriate] for the future,” he said.
More to come.
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