Richard Bruton
Question:57 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the target, if any, he has set in relation to literacy problems in primary education. [3142/00]
Priority Questions. - Literacy Levels.
I have already expressed my deep interest in the issue of literacy and I am determined to take steps to raise the standard of literacy in primary schools. The first ever national initiative to improve reading standards generally was launched recently and I will make every effort to ensure it is a complete success.
I am arranging that all primary classes from first to sixth will be supplied with standardised norm-referenced tests of literacy. In addition, teachers will be provided with profiles of pupil achievements in English to complement the standardised tests. It is intended that teachers from first to sixth classes will administer these tests each year. However, prior to any implementation of this proposal, it is my intention to hold discussions with the teaching profession.
Through the use of these norm-referenced, standardised tests each school will be able to compare its own results to national norms. Schools will plan and set improvement targets to be achieved within a stated timeframe. This should increase the number of pupils who function in the higher achievement bands and reduce the number of pupils who function at a low level or who exhibit reading difficulties. The use of profiling will be of particular benefit in this latter area.
National assessments of reading have been carried out in Ireland for 25 years. Plans are being drawn up by my Department and the Educational Research Centre for a programme of regular surveys of different curricular areas, including surveys of English reading. These will be carried out at two levels in primary school, third and fifth classes.
There is ample evidence from the national reading surveys in English and from our partici pation in international literacy surveys that about 10% of Irish pupils have serious literacy problems. We also know that students at the nine year old and 14 year old levels function just above the international average. The results obtained by pupils in national and international reading surveys can be used as a benchmark against which future progress can be measured.
My target is to reduce significantly the number with serious literacy problems and to improve our international position relative to other countries. The national reading initiative will help to give momentum to this effort. It has already been launched and activities to meet its objectives are being planned.
What happened to the target set in the national anti-poverty strategy that there would be no students with serious literacy and numeracy problems in early primary school by 2002, which is only two years away? What happened to the target because it appears to have completely disappeared?
As the Deputy is aware, this problem will not disappear overnight. If he has any understanding of the background to it, he will also understand that it will not be remedied by anybody overnight. The problems are deep seated and require extensive work to overcome them. That is being undertaken at present and progress in relation to—
Was the Department of Education and Science not represented when the decision to achieve this target by 2002 was adopted in the national anti-poverty strategy?
It was represented.
If the problems are so complex that it is impossible to achieve this target, why did the Department not flag it when the target was set? What has the Department been doing about literacy since it agreed to this target? Is it not the case that the figure of 10% is a deterioration of the previous figure?
The figures are based on research which was produced at the end of 1998. The national reading initiative was established as a response to that research. Perhaps the problem was more entrenched than the NAPS group understood at the time.
The Department of Education and Science was represented, but it did nothing about the target it set for itself. It has allowed literacy levels to deteriorate in primary schools in the intervening period. The Minister should not accept targets to reduce something significantly and allow schools to set their own targets. As the new Minister, he should make this issue a national campaign. I appeal to him to do that because the current position is a serious indictment.
I have no difficulty responding to that. It is a national scandal—
Yes.
—and it must be tackled as a priority. I have great interest in all facets of education, including third level and high technology areas, but they will be affected if this problem is not tackled at its roots. I appreciate it is an intransigent and difficult problem which will not be overcome overnight, but I will give it top priority. The national reading initiative, which was launched on 21 January, is directed at that objective. I will pursue the different aspects of the matter with vigour because I regard it as a priority.