Batt O'Keeffe
Question:26 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education her views on the literacy standards in primary schools; the proposals, if any, she intends to put in place to improve the situation. [4222/95]
Written Answers. - Reading Standards.
A number of national surveys of pupils' reading attainment in Irish primary schools have been conducted since 1972. Average reading standards of the pupil population tested improved between 1972 and 1980 by approximately eight months in terms of reading age. However, there has been no significant change in reading standards since 1980.
In an international study of reading literacy conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) in 1991, Irish nine year olds scored above the average for industrialised countries, ranking tenth out of 24 countries. Irish 14 year olds, however, scored below average in their comparative group, ranking 19th out of 24 countries. The relatively poor performance of 14 year olds compared to that of nine year olds is a cause of concern and raises questions about the teaching of reading in the higher classes in primary schools.
I am very conscious of the need to continue improving literacy standards at primary level. Among the measures that I have introduced to improve standards, is a significant extention of remedial provision.
An additional 55 remedial teachers will be appointed in primary schools this year. This will bring the total of such posts to 1,200. By the end of this year the number of remedial teachers will have increased by 25 per cent since 1992.
Courses on the identification, remediation and prevention of learning difficulties in pupils remain a priority within the expanded programme of in-career development for primary teachers.
I believe access to library facilities helps stimulate interest in reading. I have therefore increased the grants for library services by 96 per cent this year.
A number of other measures, designed to have a beneficial impact on the general educational attainment of primary pupils, will also contribute to improving literacy standards. These include the further reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio, adjustments to maximum class sizes, the Early Start programme, the extension of the psychological services and the expansion of the home school liaison programme.