Changes needed to address decline in literacy
Interventions across primary and secondary education are urgently needed to address declining literacy levels and persistent inequity, according to a new report. ‘The literacy landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand’ is authored by Professor Stuart McNaughton, chief science advisor to the Ministry of Education.
Read the full report here.
SPELD NZ welcomes the focus on the teaching of literacy in NZ. However we feel there is still a long way to go.
SPELD NZ would like to see:
- Early, reliable, evidence-based identification and intervention for literacy difficulties.
- All teachers in training develop in-depth knowledge about the Science of Reading including implementation of structured literacy practices.
- All in-service primary teachers provided with compulsory professional development about the Science of Reading including implementation of structured literacy practices.
- All schools (Years 1 – 13) employ a literacy specialist trained (theory and practical) in the Science of Reading.
- Structured, explicit literacy teaching embedded in all levels of education including teacher training.
- All English curriculum teachers have comprehensive knowledge and understanding about the Science of Reading.
- All schools and all educators recognise the impact low literacy has on all areas of an individual’s life, and that they take responsibility to provide evidence based and relevant intervention programmes in order to remove any barriers to learning.
Read SPELD NZ’s full response to the report here
