Australian students record worst-ever results for digital literacy

New figures from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) show Australian students’ ICT literacy has dropped to its lowest point since testing began in 2005 — despite young people being more digitally immersed than any generation before them.

Just half (50%) of Year 6 students attained the proficient standard – a decline from 55% in 2022 and is also lower than the national percentages observed in 2011. For Year 10 students, a mere 37% attained the proficient standard, which is the lowest percentage observed since the assessment's inception.

Education Minister Jason Clare has tasked the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) with investigating the results.

“These results have been trending down for two decades. At the same time, more and more children have had access to digital technology and devices. It begs the question: what is going on here?” Minister Clare said, adding that AI will be a topic in focus at an Education Ministers Meeting to be held later this year.

https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/australian-students-record-worstever-results-for-digital-literacy/288967

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I'd guess this is close to a global trend. Not just Oz.