• POLICIES FOR PROGRESS
• GIVE OUR KIDS THE WORLD EDUCATION GAPS
• BACKGROUND

"Our goal is straightforward. We want to see every young New Zealander able to do maths properly and to read and write by the time they turn nine," Education Minister Wyatt Creech and Associate Minister of Education Tau Henare announced today.

"Most children in our schools are doing well, but if we are to succeed as a nation we have to make sure every child is doing well. Every child has to be armed with the reading, writing and maths skills needed to help them get ahead in life," Mr Creech said.

"We value the work of good teachers. Parental involvement is also key. We ask all New Zealanders to commit to this goal and give our children the world by teaching them to read, Mr Creech said.

"We have to zero in on the education gaps. We also have to make sure young children get the message that reading, writing and doing maths is cool." Mr Henare said.

To achieve this goal the Government has embarked on five key initiatives. The main emphasis is to help focus teacher and community effort on literacy and numeracy, in addition $19.5 million of new money over three years will back this focusing effort.

1. The primary school curriculum will be focused to give priority to children being able to read, write and do maths. The Education Review Office accountability reviews will be focused on these outcomes.

2. A Literacy Taskforce of experts and practitioners will be set up to find the most effective ways of meeting the reading and writing goal. It will identify what extra help and resources teachers need to lift reading and writing standards.

3. A special fund of $10.3 million over the next three years (The Reading and Mathematics Proposals Pool) will be available to assist schools to pay for extra programmes to help those students having difficulties learning to read, write and understand maths.

   The Government also wants to encourage business to get in behind programmes in schools in low socio economic areas. The Government will set a sum aside to match every dollar businesses contribute to effective reading and maths programmes in decile one and two schools.

4. A mass communications drive (TV, radio, newspapers etc) will be run over three years to motivate and inspire businesses and communities, families, whanau, iwi, Pacific Island groups, old and young to get in behind actions to improve reading and maths

5. Some existing programmes that have been funded for a limited period that promote good parenting, positive early childhood experiences, and community-school links will get on-going funding.

"The Literacy Taskforce will play a similar role to the Maths and Science Taskforce set up last year. Well over $1 million worth of new resources and programmes are in schools now to improve maths and science skills of all primary school aged kids. More will be become available from the start of next year.

"We will make certain the curriculum gives priority to the need for young people to be able to read, write and do maths. A "balanced curriculum" can not be balanced if students end up not being able to read, write or do maths.

"The Government is willing to play its part, but parents, the community and business have to get involved if this is to succeed.

"The new publicity drive will help make certain that every New Zealander in every living room will know how important it is to be able to read, write and do maths, and will encourage them to do their bit to get every child involved.

"The direct action announced today will help teachers, parents and communities make certain their children have the necessary skills to get ahead in the future." ENDS