Outcome-based education

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Outcome-Based Education, OBE, is a form of education being introduced in Western Australia. This change affects years K (kindergarten) to 12 (the last year of school before university).

This education replaces grades such as "A" "B" "C", or percentages. Instead of grades the student is "levelled". From kindergarten to year 12, the student will receive either a Foundational level (which is pre-institutional) or be evidenced at levels 1 through to 8. A student cannot 'fail', he or she will just simply not achieve in the level many of her or his students are achieving. This acknowledges differential growth at different stages, and focuses the teacher on the needs of the students

Many people are against OBE, perhaps suggesting that it doesn't let students excel because they are levelled. However, the system allows for a student to achieve at higher levels beyond the average of the grade or year. Some of the resistance no doubt comes from the considerable extra work for teachers to evidence outcomes for each student, and parents simply do not have past experience to help them appreciate the method. Many students do not understand the marks they receive either, and due to the set out of OBE, a well written essay that wasn't planned meticulously may rate low for its lack of processes and strategies. A student who achieves a level 4 in one outcome and two level 5s in two other outcomes will achieve a level 4.8, the same as a student who achieved two level 8s and a level 4, with the 3 level gap between 5 and 8 not being recognised. Familiarity could ease concerns, but the enormous claim on teachers' time to both initially learn, administer and develop curriculum for the method naturally has its critics.

PLATO, People Lobbying Against Teaching Outcomes, is a self-named group of people against OBE. This group of people disagree with the Western Australian Minister for Education, and her commitment to OBE. The group includes many outraged teachers from Western Australia.

William Spady promoted the OBE method as a way of getting beyond meaningless percentages and marks, aiming for education for life beyond school, giving children and young adults a broader and more transformative education. Unfortunately inelegant implementation makes the future of OBE unclear, and at odds with the Australian Government in Canberra.