The decision was taken after a meeting with Education Minister Julia Gillard today in
which she ruled out taking any steps to protect students from the misuse of test data
posted on the My School website.

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said: "The Minister only had one
message today and that was she would not negotiate."

"Today she rejected a proposal to convene a working party with representatives from
the Government and the union that would sit down and try and find a solution to this
dispute."

"That is disappointing given the deep concerns teachers have about the misleading
way test data is being presented on the My School website and the failure of the
Government to stop this data being used to name and shame schools in league
tables."

"The AEU remains willing to engage in good faith negotiations to achieve a
resolution to this dispute which would allow the tests to proceed."

"Unless the Minister is willing to negotiate, the moratorium on the tests will remain in
place."

"Teachers cannot hand out a test when we know the results will be misused to brand
students and schools as failures in league tables."

"We have repeatedly tried to get the Government to do two things: improve the My
School website so it contains accurate and meaningful information for parents and
protect students and school communities from the misuse of student data in league
tables."

Follow this link to download Federal Executive's full decision from today's meeting with Julia Gillard.

AEU Media Release

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