Qld behind in literacy, new figures show

Queensland children are still among the worst performing in literacy and numeracy in Australia, according to new test figures.

The results from May's NAPLAN tests - which benchmarks students across all states and territories - show Queensland Year 3 and Year 5 students rating second last, and Year 7 and 9 students third last overall.

But Education Minister Geoff Wilson said the test results showed significant improvement in more areas of the NAPLAN testing than any other state or territory since the tests began in 2008.

"Queensland is striving to be the best so we are not going to be happy until we are the best," Mr Wilson said.

"While we have shown some encouraging results we know there is still a lot of work to do.

"The national data shows that Queensland's average scores have shown significant improvement in 10 of the 20 NAPLAN test areas from 2008 to 2010, the highest number of significant improvements of any state or territory over this period."

The tests have been plagued by controversy, including allegations of cheating.

They almost didn't go ahead in May after teachers threatened to boycott supervision amid concerns the results would be used to create simplistic league tables via the federal government's My School website.

But the tests of Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students proceeded after the federal government agreed to set up a working party to provide advice on improvements to the website.

Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) CEO Professor Geoff Masters, who carried out a review of education in Queensland in 2008, said no other state or territory had improved in as many areas of the NAPLAN tests from 2008 to 2010.

"There have been steady improvements in most areas of literacy and numeracy in Queensland schools over the past two years," Prof Masters said.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the government was failing children.

"No one is suggesting our education system isn't staffed by a lot of people who are working very hard ... what we are asking today is where is all the money gone?" Mr Langbroek told reporters.

"The outcomes we are seeing is another thing people want Anna Bligh held accountable for."

In 2009, Queensland children improved but were still among the worst performing students in Australia.