“NAPLAN should be a simple check-up, not a major operation. It is one tool used to assess educational progress, not a high-stakes test.” Last year was the first time the policy, introduced by former education minister Adrian Piccoli, was in place and almost 70 per cent of year 9 students did not meet the band 8 requirements. NSW had a lift in year 9 NAPLAN results in 2017, but many warned it was a "sugar hit" and the improvements were a result of schools preparing their students for the test. Mr Piccoli, who is about to start as director of the UNSW Gonski Institute for Education, said he was “disappointed and surprised” the policy had been abandoned. Former education minister, Adrian Piccoli, said the policy saw NAPLAN results improve for the first time. Credit:Kate Geraghty

“We keep talking about dropping standards and for the first time NAPLAN results were improving and last year they improved by 50 per cent in some measures,” Mr Piccoli said. “High schools changed what they were doing to improve literacy and numeracy and then the government just dropped it on the back of public pressure.” Mr Stokes said the introduction of a minimum standard was a reform that had widespread support, ensuring all students who receive the HSC have the literacy and numeracy skills needed to succeed in life after school. HSC students will now sit short online tests in reading, writing and numeracy in years 10, 11 or 12 but it will not be tied to NAPLAN. Loading

The opposition education spokesman Jihad Dib said the initial policy was poorly thought out. “The reason you get backflips in government is because decisions are made on the hop,” Mr Dib said. “But I am happy and proud that we managed to get this overturned and I hope that this teaches us to listen to the experts.” Martine Beaumont, founder of the HSC, Opportunity, Potential for Everyone group, said she welcomed the government’s decision but was disappointed students still faced extra tests. "The over 15,000 members of the group HOPE who have been campaigning to scrap the minimum literacy and numeracy qualifying standards for the HSC are overjoyed the minister has listened and acted on our concerns,” Ms Beaumont said.