Primary literacy and numeracy
Education plays a vital role in lifting the overall socio-economic outcomes of the whole community. Students in New South Wales (NSW) consistently perform above the national average in standardised literacy and numeracy tests.
In 2013, NSW had a very high proportion of Year 5 students who met or exceeded the minimum national benchmarks for reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. NSW was the best performing state for reading.
OECD
The OECD's (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Education Policy Outlook: Australia report, released in June 2013, cites a number of features of the Australian education system that place it among the world's best.
Australian schools are recognised for their:
- fair and equitable access
- positive learning environments
- strong pedagogical leadership and
- well-prepared teachers supported by an effective evaluation and assessment framework.
Students' instruction times and teachers' teaching time are among the highest across OECD countries.
High completion rates for upper secondary and tertiary education and fewer underperforming students than the OECD average and effective secondary and tertiary pathways that prepare students well for social and labour market integration further demonstrate the quality of education in Australia.
A 2010 OECD report, The High Cost of Low Educational Performances, presents economic modelling that shows there are enormous economic gains to be had by countries that can improve the cognitive skills of their school children.
| State/Territory1 | Reading % | Writing % | Spelling % | Grammar and punctuation % | Numeracy % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 96.8 | 93.1 | 94.3 | 95.8 | 93.9 |
| Victoria | 96.5 | 94.2 | 94.4 | 96.0 | 94.4 |
| Queensland | 96.2 | 90.0 | 92.5 | 94.4 | 93.6 |
| South Australia | 95.7 | 89.3 | 91.4 | 94.1 | 92.0 |
| Western Australia | 96.0 | 90.9 | 92.4 | 94.0 | 92.7 |
| Tasmania | 95.5 | 89.0 | 89.8 | 93.0 | 92.4 |
| Northern Territory | 73.7 | 59.8 | 64.1 | 66.6 | 69.7 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 97.0 | 94.1 | 94.2 | 96.5 | 95.0 |
| Australia | 96.1 | 91.7 | 93.1 | 94.8 | 93.4 |
Percentages reflect the proportion of students at or above the national minimum standard
- Year 5 students. The typical average age of students varies by state, from 10 years 5 months in Queensland and Western Australia, to 10 years 11 months in Tasmania.
Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy, National Report, 2013