LITERACY BOOST FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS

The State Government is stepping up its efforts to support children with literacy problems this year with a new personalised tutoring program for primary school students.

Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, said the Government was providing funding to schools to provide intensive tuition over two years for those students in Years 6 and 7 who do not achieve the Year 5 literacy benchmark.

“The funding will bridge the literacy gap between primary and secondary school for struggling students,” Mr Welford said.

“It will be spent on 15 hours of tutoring to boost literacy in late primary school students to give them the skills and confidence to enter high school.

“This program will give every student the opportunity to succeed. Students need to be able to read, write, spell and use grammar—they need the basics.”

Mr Welford said the intensive tutoring would help recipients to engage in secondary school studies.

“We want to help children struggling with literacy in the middle phase of learning to get the best possible start to high school,” he said.

“This will ensure the transition between primary and secondary school is positive and assists students to build on earlier learning.

“A seamless transition from primary school to high school leads to more effective student learning and positive experiences in adolescence.

“The funding will be available to all Queensland state and non-state schools and will give all children the best start possible on the path to life-long learning.”

The new initiative complements the Government’s Literacy – the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006-08, launched last year (2006).

Media contact: Greg Milne or Marnie Stitz on 32371000