Queensland government considers scrapping OP high school system

The Queensland Government is considering scrapping the OP system in a radical change that would wipe out the system currently used to grade and rank graduating high school students.

Independent experts have recommended a new system where year 12 students would sit four assessments per subject.

It would be the same test, conducted at the same time, in every school and would account for 50 percent of the overall subject result.

The report also calls for universities and TAFEs to review their admissions processes, especially when it comes to deciding who gets into the most popular courses.

It means a new selection criteria which could impact on a student’s choice of senior school subjects.

“The recommendations from the report are that we should get rid of the OP and the Queensland core skills test,” education minister John-Paul Langbroek said.

But it won’t come cheap.

“We’re talking the investment of many, probably, tens of millions of dollars to actually make this work,” Queensland Teacher’s Union president Kevin Bates said.

It’s believed the government will have an answer on whether it will embrace an overhaul by December.