Digital backlash sees writing test return to pen and paper for year 5 students from 2028

Australia’s education ministers have agreed that the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will return to a pen and paper test for year 5 students from 2028 in response to a growing backlash against technology in the classroom.

The testing revealed Australian students were spending an average 2.6 hours per day using digital devices compared to the OECD average of 1.7 hours per day. NAPLAN tests have also consistently shown one third of Australian students aren’t meeting challenging but reasonable expectations in foundational literacy and numeracy which one expert called a “national tragedy”.

Ministers were also considering reforms to the primary school maths curriculum and new additions to the national curriculum to address anti-Semitism.

New South Wales Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said this is a response to the evidence suggesting that excessive screen time has been harmful for students and their outcomes. She is also pushing for tests in years 7 and 9 to also be pen and paper tests and the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), which administers NAPLAN, will provide advice on this.