Ministers back pen and paper for year 5

Australia's education ministers have agreed NAPLAN writing tests for year 5 students will return to pen and paper from 2028, moving away from computer-based assessment.

Screen time linked to poor learning

New South Wales Education Minister Prue Car said there is evidence excessive screen time harms student outcomes. Students learn better writing pen to paper than typing on screen.

“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that excessive screen time has been harmful for students and their outcomes.”

Australian students use screens too much

Recent PISA exams showed Australian students spent an average two point six hours per day using digital devices, compared to the OECD average of one point seven hours per day.

One third of students failing basics

NAPLAN tests have consistently shown one third of Australian students are not meeting challenging but reasonable expectations in foundational literacy and numeracy.

Wider digital detox planned for classrooms

Education ministers have agreed to a wider digital detox as part of evidence-based classroom practices. New South Wales will mandate screen time limits from preschool to year twelve from 2028.

Advocates push for more reform

The Heads Up Alliance, a grassroots parent movement against screen time, welcomed the reforms but said more is needed to reverse declining Australian educational standards.

“Australia's Digital Education Revolution of 2008 was, in effect, a vast experiment on our children. Today, the results of that experiment have become impossible to ignore.”