Vol. 491 No. 6
279 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the proportion of students with serious literacy and numeracy problems in early primary education for each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and in each of the past five years. [12711/98]
My Department does not collect the information requested by the Deputy.
Individual schools test their own pupils' progress in literacy and numeracy using a variety of tests, including standardised tests. Information on pupil's progress, including those in early primary classes with literacy and numeracy problems, is kept at school level.
For the purposes of allocating remedial teachers to schools to support students with serious literacy and numeracy problems, it is estimated, as a general rule, that approximately 10 per cent of students will require such remedial teaching support. Research evidence for other age groups suggests that this is a reliable estimate.
280 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether his Department can achieve the target of eliminating literacy and numeracy problems in early primary education in the next five years; the system, if any, put in place to monitor progress towards this target; and the initiatives, if any, taken in the past year to promote this objective. [12712/98]
A number of initiatives aimed at reducing literacy and numeracy problems in early education and at other levels of the system have continued in operation during the past year.
Pilot projects like Early Start and Breaking the Cycle, which are expected to have beneficial effects on these areas, are still in operation and are being evaluated by the Educational Research Centre in Drumcondra. The effectiveness of the remedial education service at primary level, which is aimed especially at the reduction of learning problems is also being evaluated by the Educational Research Centre and a report is expected within the next few months. The Department's programme of initiatives aimed at reducing educational disadvantage has as one of its objectives the reduction of educational failure. The effectiveness of all of these programmes is kept under review by the inspectorate during school inspections.
The implementation stage of the revised primary curriculum will begin during the next school year and this will be supported by a significant programme of in-career development for teachers. A major emphasis of this revised curriculum will be the development of literacy and numeracy skills at all levels of the primary school.
