Attendance, numeracy, and engagement for NSW students down across the board, report finds

By REBECCA HERNANDEZ

State public schools struggle as student attendance, numeracy, and engagement trend downwards across New South Wales.

According to a recently published report from the NSW Department of Education, percentage rates for both primary and secondary school students in these areas declined by highs of over 25% in the last year.

The department describes a particularly difficult year for schooling, one marred by “floods”, “a virulent flu season”, and the “lingering spectre of COVID-19”.

“2022 was a more complicated logistical endeavour for public education than previous years,” states the department in its Annual Report for 2022.

“Merely opening schools on day 1 of Term 1 was a major achievement.”

Statistical Decline

Attendance – measured as the proportion of students attending over 90% of the time – across schools in NSW saw the largest decline through the year. Primary attendance dropped from 77.8% of students attending in 2021, to 52% in 2022, missing aims to bring it up to 82%.

Rates were similarly skewed for secondary students, going from 59.6% in 2021 to 41% in 2022, down by 18.6 points, and missing a target of 70% total attendance.

Accounting for why this was the case, the department once again discusses COVID and natural disasters as being extenuating circumstances. Working to bolster the numbers, they also brought up taking a hands-on approach to keeping students engaged and returning to class.

“The department provided support to schools and interventions to lift attendance by creating a positive environment for engagement and learning,” the department states.

“In 2022, the department worked with 128 schools to provide guided support and 14 schools to provide strategic support for improved attendance.”

Counting Down

Engagement and numeracy experienced similar declines throughout NSW, wherein NAPLAN results depict an approximate drop of 10% in both “student growth in reading and numeracy”, as well as in individuals who breached the “national minimum standard” for the topics.

The department of Education discusses how declining engagement factors into this. They find that while it appears to be statistically high, external pressures have left it worse than almost a decade prior.

“83.1% of primary students and 62.4% of secondary students reported positive engagement at school,” they state.

“However, student engagement appears to be declining and is now at its lowest level since 2015. The decline is a global trend exacerbated by COVID-19.”

Ultimately, as circumstances change and challenges arise, reports such as these offer a chance to reflect and refocus.