The number of VCE students getting special exam assistance has surged, with nearly 60 per cent going to private schools despite them making up just 37 per cent of the cohort.
The number of VCE students getting special assistance with their exams has surged, with most of those getting help coming from private and Catholic schools, despite comprising a minority of those taking the tests.
Special arrangements can include rest breaks during exams, extra time to complete the paper, electronic or human assistance to understand questions or complete answers, Auslan interpreters or exam papers in enlarged print, electronic text or braille. Schooling consultant Paul O’Shannassy said despite the numbers being weighted towards private school kids there was no evidence of any abuse or gaming of the system.
“All these current Year-12s were in lower secondary school during the lockdowns and we’re still seeing the detrimental effect,” maths teacher John Kermond toldThe VCAA – which has “streamlined” the evidence requirements for applications – says the soaring numbers are being driven by greater awareness among parents, teachers and students that help was available at exam time.
Kermond – an outspoken critic of aspects of VCE delivery – said SEAs had also surged in the public education sector, which was evidence that it was no “private school rort”. O’Shannassy, too, cited greater awareness of mental health problems among schools, teachers and parents as a potential driving force behind the increase in SEAs.
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