Australia’s Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has expressed concern over the country’s declining digital literacy levels after new national testing recorded the weakest results since assessments began 20 years ago.
According to the latest ICT literacy assessment conducted by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), only 37 per cent of Year 10 students and 50 per cent of Year 6 students met the required proficiency standards in digital literacy.
The assessment, taken by around 10,000 students in May 2025, evaluated skills such as creating presentations, searching for information, analysing data and understanding online safety.
ACARA chief executive Stephen Gniel described the findings as the lowest performance levels since testing started in 2005.
“These results show a continued decline in ICT literacy and ongoing gaps between different groups of students,” Gniel said.
The report highlighted significant disparities, with Indigenous students, children living in remote areas and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds performing well below the national average.
Despite increased access to digital devices and technology, education experts warned that greater screen time was not leading to stronger digital skills.
“Having access to technology does not automatically mean students know how to use it effectively or safely,” Gniel said, stressing the need for stronger education around misinformation, fake content and online risks.
Most students reported receiving lessons on online research, cyberbullying and privacy protection, but concerns remain over how effectively those skills are being applied.
The assessment also revealed widespread use of artificial intelligence tools among students. One in four Year 10 students said they frequently used AI for schoolwork, while more than 60 per cent reported using AI-generated writing tools at least once a month.
Clare said he had asked the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) to investigate the reasons behind the decline and indicated that the impact of AI on learning would become a major focus for education ministers later this year.
“The challenge is ensuring AI supports learning rather than replacing it,” Clare said.
ACARA also signalled that future digital literacy testing may include AI-related skills as schools continue adapting to rapid technological change.