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.