The selective school exams in Australia were marred by significant organizational failures, resulting in chaotic scenes at testing centers across Sydney. The unprecedented use of large-scale testing centers and an online testing format, implemented for the first time this year, contributed heavily to the problems.
Parents reported unsafe conditions, poor communication, and overwhelming crowds at drop-off and pick-up times. One parent described the situation as "mayhem," while another recounted the difficulty of managing their child in the chaotic environment and the subsequent distress of losing their child temporarily.
The Department of Education acknowledged responsibility for communication with parents but stated that the contracted company, Janison, was responsible for test delivery. Janison employed 300 staff at the largest centers. In response to the events, an urgent review has been ordered, and meetings have taken place between the department and Janison's CEO. However, this is not enough for some, with calls for a full and transparent investigation.
Further compounding the problems, a technical issue affected 51 students at one center, preventing them from completing a section of the exam.
The opposition education spokeswoman has described the testing process as a "complete and utter shambles." Calls are being made for greater accountability and transparency from the Department of Education and a re-evaluation of the selective testing system.
Approximately 30,000 students applied for the selective and Opportunity Class (OC) tests, competing for a limited number of places.
Riot police were called to manage Canterbury and regular police were called to Randwick.
This year was the first time selective tests were held in super-sized centres, with exams held in local schools in previous years. It was also the first time the test was done online.
Janison announced its $45 million deal with the department in an ASX statement last year, saying its services would include computer-based tests, managing test centres and invigilation.
One parent said conditions were “entirely unsafe for children at drop-off, with poor communication and children having to push through hundreds of waiting adults”.
Judith Carroll, who brought her grandson Teddy to the Randwick racecourse test centre, said it was a “harrowing day. It was not just disorganised, it was mayhem.”
Another parent, who took her child to Canterbury for the OC test, said when they arrived at the centre there was “one door to get children in and triage them”.
“Parents with nine-year-olds are unlikely to dump them with minimal supervision or leave them in those crowds.” She said when she went to collect her son he had “been sent out a back door and was nowhere to be seen. He asked another adult to call me and I found him.”
The department said it was responsible for communication with parents about tests and venues, but that Janison was contracted to manage the delivery of tests, including invigilation staff and security. It said Janison had 300 staff at the three largest centres.
A department spokesperson said Dizdar met Janison’s chief executive “immediately after the issues were made known on Friday and has held subsequent meetings across the weekend with the senior executive”.
On social media, parents were being encouraged to lodge formal complaints to the department and demand an “open and transparent” investigation.
Compounding the disaster, the department confirmed 51 students at the Sydney Olympic Park test centre experienced a technical issue that meant they could not complete one section of the OC exam.
Just hours after the test chaos on Friday private coaching colleges started spruiking discounted selective tests and review sessions for those who had exams postponed.
Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell said it appeared the testing process this year had been “a complete and utter shambles”.
“[Education] Minister Prue Car needs to be honest with parents about why this has occurred and whether a full investigation will be carried out.
“It should not have been a surprise to the Department of Education that such large numbers of students and families would be in attendance ... so it seems extraordinary that things escalated to the point where police needed to attend.”
Car has ordered an urgent review and said on Saturday she had asked the department to keep her office up to date on test operations and logistics.
Mohan Dhall, chief executive of the Australian Tutoring Association, said questions should be asked as to why a private company was engaged to run the centres and said selective testing needed “a major re-evaluation”.
About 30,000 students applied to sit selective and OC tests this year. Students compete for about 4200 selective places and 1800 OC places.
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