The entire board of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has been dismissed due to significant errors during the VCE exams over the years. Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll made this announcement in response to a major blunder last year, where exam samples were mistakenly released prior to the tests. An independent review revealed that sample cover pages had been accessed about 6,000 times across 65 subjects before the exams, prompting concerns about exam integrity.
Carroll accepted full responsibility for the mishap, stating the VCAA had failed to meet critical expectations multiple times. He noted the need for a complete overhaul as the previous system was no longer acceptable. The state government has pledged to implement all eight recommendations from the independent review, which highlighted deficiencies in crisis management and planning within the VCAA. However, the government has acknowledged that there isn’t enough time to enact all necessary changes before this year’s exams.
Looking forward, the VCAA will be creating backup exams and questions to mitigate the risks of future leaks. Additionally, it has been decided that cover pages will no longer be used in exams to prevent similar issues. The review’s initial findings are just the beginning; a more comprehensive investigation into the VCAA’s culture and operations is underway and will conclude later this year.
Despite accepting responsibility for these issues, Carroll will retain his position as education minister, sparking criticism from opposition leader Brad Battin, who argued that the government should have acted sooner to address the ongoing failures at the VCAA. The situation reflects growing frustration with the state government’s handling of educational assessments, raising concerns about the future of the VCE in Victoria.