Community to debate primary school literacy and numeracy

20/09/06
Western Australian parents and educators are being given the chance to have a say on a major review of literacy and numeracy in Government primary schools.
At Atwell Primary School today, Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich released the Literacy and Numeracy Review preliminary report for public comment.
A taskforce chaired by educational research expert Professor Bill Louden, from The University of Western Australia, has developed a series of proposals to improve literacy and numeracy standards.
Ms Ravlich said literacy and numeracy were the absolute foundations of a good education.
"This review is about improving the performance of all students, particularly those who do not meet the minimum standards," she said.
The key issues for community consideration include:

• increasing local kindergarten and pre-primary places in schools where students have low rates of literacy and numeracy;

• increasing kindergarten time from 11 to 25 hours per week in schools where students have low rates of literacy and numeracy;

• screening for awareness of sounds in pre-school and extra support for children who may later have difficulty in learning to read;

• literacy and numeracy testing for Year One students;

• setting minimums for time spent on literacy and numeracy tasks in the classroom; and

• widening access to successful programs such as 'First Steps in Literacy' 'First Steps in Mathematics', 'Getting It Right', and the Aboriginal Literacy Strategy, to all teachers of students from kindergarten to Year Seven.

The Minister said WA students had performed strongly as a group in national and international literacy testing, but there was room for improvement.
Professor Bill Louden said it was important to do more to help students who were consistently struggling.
"One of the aims of the taskforce is to find ways of identifying these students before they fall behind," he said.
"We need to find out which students need extra help and then intervene at an early stage of their schooling.
"The taskforce is keen to involve WA's urban, rural and remote communities in these important discussions about the long-term improvement of literacy and numeracy in WA schools.
"Starting tomorrow in Bunbury, the taskforce will hold a series 10 forums around the State, so local people can have a say on the issues affecting the literacy and numeracy of their children."
For information about the forums visit: http://www.literacyandnumeracyreview.det.wa.edu.au/ or telephone 9264 4382 or country freecall number 1800 655 985.
The taskforce's final report is due to be presented to the State Government by the end of the year.
Minister's office - 9213 6800