The ninth NAMER, which had been due to take place in spring 2020, has been postponed to 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although this will not be a typical National Assessment, it remains an important source of information about national standards in pupils’ performance in English reading and Maths, as well as contextual information from teachers, pupils and principals. Given the extraordinary circumstances of the past twelve months, this is a valuable opportunity to gather information. The outcomes of the National Assessments can contribute to policy initiatives that can make the educational system more effective.
We are conscious that school communities have been working in very difficult circumstances over the past year. Therefore, in an effort to minimise the burden on participating schools, the scope of NAMER 2021 has been adapted and reduced. For this cycle of the Assessments:
- Pupils will take only one test (in previous cycles all pupils would have taken both tests)
- Second class pupils will take the English reading test only
- Sixth class pupils will take the Mathematics test only
- Questionnaires will be administered to pupils, teachers of selected 2nd and 6th classes and school principals (no parent questionnaires will be administered)
- Questionnaires and tests will be administered by class teachers during the first two weeks of May
- Members of the Department of Education’s Inspectorate will oversee testing in a percentage of participating schools.
Detailed instructions for administering the tests and questionnaires will be sent to schools in April.
The NAMER 2021 performance report will be published in winter 2022, and a context report will follow in 2023.
Contact: namer2021@erc.ie