Labor's cover-up of its latest VCE exam debacle continues as the Allan Labor Government and crossbench MPs teamed-up to block an Ombudsman's investigation into the matter.
This afternoon in State Parliament, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals moved a motion to refer the 2024 VCE exam debacle, which has resulted in at least 56 exam papers being compromised, and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to the Ombudsman for investigation.
However, following pressure from Labor and the Australian Education Union (AEU), the Greens and the Animal Justice Party teamed up with the Government and voted against the motion, defeating it 19 votes to 16.
Weeks after first learning that sample examination coversheetscontaining hidden text were negligently uploaded onto the VCAA website, Victorian students still don't have answers as to how this debacle occurred. Students still don't know which exam questions have been compromised, and how their final results will be impacted.
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood and Education, Jess Wilson, said: "By voting to block a truly independent investigation into this debacle, Labor, the Greens and the Animal Justice Party have put the interests of students last.
"After three consecutive years of compromised exams, how can any student completing their VCE next year have confidence in the system?
"The Minister for Education continues to fail Victorian students by presiding over this cover-up and placing the final marks of tens of thousands of VCE students in jeopardy. Today the Greens and the Animal Justice Party joined the Minister in putting politics before the interests of Victorian students.
"Despite this disappointing outcome, the Liberals and Nationals will continue to fight for students by writing to the Ombudsman to request a truly comprehensive and independent investigation into this debacle."
