14/12/04
The latest literacy and numeracy test data shows the reading skills of Year Three students continue to improve, according to Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter.
Releasing the results of the 2004 Western Australian literacy and numeracy assessment today, Mr Carpenter said he was encouraged by students' performances, which he said showed the Gallop Government's $28million 'Getting it Right' literacy and numeracy strategy was working.
"It is early days still but the improvement from 93.3 per cent of Year Three students meeting the reading benchmark in 2001, the year we announced 'Getting it Right', to 95 per cent this year is heartening," he said.
"What I am hearing from the schools involved in the strategy is that their individual WALNA results are excellent, and that the program is picking up those kids whose personal circumstances mean they might not ordinarily meet the benchmark.
"Our 'Getting it Right' strategy is setting an international standard, with the program recently lauded by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) as one of the best literacy and numeracy programs seen around the world in decades.
"ACER has also suggested that the strategy's training methods be adopted as a national model."
Years Three, Five and Seven students across the State were assessed in aspects of literacy - reading, writing and spelling - and numeracy in August. This is the seventh year of the testing program.
Almost all Western Australian public and private schools participated and more than 79,000 students were assessed.
Public schools in Tasmania and some independent schools in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory also use the WALNA tests to meet their national reporting requirements.
Mr Carpenter said in addition to the trend of improvement in Year Three reading results, there continued a modest trend of improvement in the reading, writing and numeracy performances of Year Three Aboriginal students.
"I am really pleased to see that, once again, more Year Three Aboriginal students are meeting the benchmark," he said.
"That bodes really well for the future of Aboriginal kids in the education system, with these basic skills being bedded down in the early years where it is essential they make a good start."
Aside from these two areas of improvement, the Minister said other results showed a consistency of performance over time and no observable areas of decline.
Mr Carpenter said that trend data was all-important.
"From year to year you can see some fluctuations, but what is meaningful is the picture of performance over the years," he said.
"There is, however, a way to go until we see almost 100 per cent of students meeting the benchmark, taking into account students with disabilities who also sit the tests."
Schools distribute individual students' WALNA reports with the students' school report.
Proportion of Year Three students meeting the benchmark standard:
Reading 95 per cent nationally agreed
Writing 86.4 per cent nationally agreed
Spelling 81.4 per cent provisional location*
Numeracy 88.3 per cent nationally agreed
Proportion of Year Five students meeting the benchmark standard:
Reading 92.4 per cent nationally agreed
Writing 86.8 per cent nationally agreed
Spelling 82 per cent provisional location*
Numeracy 87.4 per cent nationally agreed
Proportion of Year Seven students meeting the benchmark standard:
Reading 83.3 per cent nationally agreed
Writing 76.4 per cent provisional location*
Spelling 77.3 per cent provisional location*
Numeracy 79.5 per cent provisional location*
Minister's office: 9213 6800
*The benchmark standards for Year Three, Five and Seven reading, Year Three and Five writing and numeracy have been agreed by all States and Territories. Spelling results and Year Seven writing and numeracy are reported in relation to a provisional location of the benchmark standard. The provisional location was determined in WA in consultation with the body responsible for reporting nationally comparable data, as well as representatives from all educational sectors. National agreement to report performances in these five areas in relation to the benchmarks is still to be secured.
