Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks
Australian school students are showing declining proficiency in reading and writing, with one in three failing to meet national Naplan benchmarks. Education officials acknowledge the results present significant challenges, though numeracy scores remain relatively stable.
Why it matters
Falling literacy standards in national testing raise concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the Australian education system and student preparedness.
School Naplan results have been released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for 2026. School Naplan results have been released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for 2026. Australian education Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks Education minister Jason Clare says the results showed ‘real challenges’ but numeracy scores were heartening
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Reading and writing scores are going backwards for almost every age group in Australia’s national standardised school tests, with one in three students still failing to meet Naplan benchmarks.
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