Our union and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) are calling for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) to formally review the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) senior assessment processes and procedures.
The call comes to ensure issues which have arisen this year are not repeated and that there is an agenda of continuous improvement.
IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said our union and our colleagues at the QTU would welcome the opportunity to discuss how a review should proceed, including the establishment of Terms of Reference.
“IEU members have played a pivotal role in the introduction of the new QCE system,” Mr Burke said.
“Not only have they worked tirelessly to ensure the system has been implemented in their own schools, but significant numbers have taken on the additional roles of Endorsers, Confirmers and Markers, which are integral to the new system,” he said.
“While there is a widespread acknowledgement that this is the first year the new system has been implemented – and that the year has been particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic – our members have, nonetheless, identified significant issues at various points throughout 2020.
“The QCAA has willingly kept dialogue open regarding the new system throughout this year, however, we feel a formal review is necessary moving forward,” Mr Burke said.
Our union will keep members up to date with this issue.
Tell us how your school is dealing with the new system
Our union’s Education Committee is conducting research into the models of senior schooling that are emerging in response to the introduction of the new QCE system.
The purpose of gathering this data is to get a clearer picture of new or exacerbated demands on senior subject teachers.
It will also assist us in providing support and advice to members and advocacy to the QCAA and the Education Minister.
The survey is easily accessible, takes roughly five minutes to complete and all responses will remain confidential.
Take the survey now.
New system means new demands
Mr Burke said the new system places demands on all teachers and schools in terms of processes and procedures of endorsement and confirmation as well as the administration of external exams.
“There is, however, scope for schools to accommodate those demands in a variety of ways,” Mr Burke said.
“Some schools, for example, have dealt with the requirement for uploading of numerous student work samples by hiring additional school officers, while others require classroom teachers to take charge of the process.
“Similarly, while most schools appear to be providing senior students with opportunities to practise sitting external exams, the frequency and timing of practice examinations varies.
“We are interested in those various responses and approaches and the way that your school is responding to the new senior secondary requirements.
“I encourage as many senior secondary subject teachers to participate in our union’s survey as possible,” Mr Burke said.
Secondary principals across Queensland have also been invited to complete the survey.
You can find the survey here.
Image sourced from Twitter.
