Vol. 513 No. 6
66 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he will take to implement a literacy initiative with routine lit eracy testing at three distinct stages in primary education which would be the basis for benchmarking and comparative analysis of performance nationally and locally and for the design of improvement strategies. [3137/00]
Teacher estimates derived from the national reading surveys indicate that nearly 10% of pupils in fifth class at primary level have serious literacy difficulties. Tackling this serious problem for our young children is one of the top priorities for me, as Minister.
The vast majority of primary schools already engage in annual assessments of their pupils' reading. There is a deep understanding among teachers already of the importance of regular assessment of their pupils' achievements. To date, schools have mainly used test results for reporting to parents and for the identification of pupils with reading difficulties.
I am arranging that all primary classes from first to sixth will be supplied with standardised, norm-referenced tests of literacy which teachers will administer to their pupils each year. In addition, teachers will be provided with profiles of pupil achievement in English to complement the standardised tests. Both the tests and the profiles will be distributed to schools during the present school year.
While the proposal for the assessment of reading using specific instruments on a class by class basis will not be a new departure for teachers, I intend, however, prior to any implementation of this proposal, to hold discussions with representatives of the teaching profession.
I also intend to conduct a programme of national surveys of English reading at primary level on a regular basis, in conjunction with the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra. I will continue the series of surveys at fifth class level and extend the programme to include pupils at second-third class level.
The use of particular standardised tests by schools and the system of profiling pupil achievements in English combined will be the basis for the benchmarking and comparative analysis of performance nationally and locally to which the Deputy refers.
The provision of test materials to schools is just one of a series of initiatives which I am taking to address these serious problems.
