Published Wednesday, 16 May, 2007 at 01:29 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $1.5 MILLION TO BOOST NUMERACY
The Beattie Government today announced $1.5 million will be committed in the upcoming State Budget to drive high-quality mathematics and numeracy programs in state schools.
Premier Peter Beattie said this major new numeracy initiative would provide a new direction and a heightened focus on numeracy in classrooms.
“Numeracy is vitally important in today’s fast-paced, technology-based learning and working environment and is a skill everyone needs to succeed in everyday life,” Mr Beattie said.
“This initiative, to be launched later this year, will be critical in helping to improve students’ numeracy outcomes.
“It is essential that teachers and schools have the knowledge, skills, leadership and support to continually improve the quality of numeracy teaching across all areas of learning.
“This will focus attention on improving the essential numeracy skills of students from Prep to Year 12.”
Mr Beattie said the money would build teacher capacity in the teaching of numeracy through professional development programs and the development of teacher resource and training packages.
“It will also focus on the teaching of numeracy in the classroom and encourage teachers to teach numeracy in areas other than just mathematics lessons,” he said.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the numeracy initiative would build on the Literacy – the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006-2008, launched last year to boost literacy standards.
“Both plans recognise that quality teaching can make the single biggest difference to student outcomes, and ensure teachers have intensive training in literacy and numeracy,” Mr Welford said.
“It’s part of an overall focus we have on the fundamental keys to learning across all years and in all subjects.”
“In the last 12 months we have had a major focus on literacy and now we are turning our attention to improving teachers’ skills in the teaching of numeracy.
“Like the literacy framework, the numeracy initiative will focus on the professional development of teachers.
“This is aimed at improving not only teachers’ knowledge of numeracy, but also of the demands and opportunities in the curriculum for learning and applying numeracy.”
16 May, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000
Premier Peter Beattie said this major new numeracy initiative would provide a new direction and a heightened focus on numeracy in classrooms.
“Numeracy is vitally important in today’s fast-paced, technology-based learning and working environment and is a skill everyone needs to succeed in everyday life,” Mr Beattie said.
“This initiative, to be launched later this year, will be critical in helping to improve students’ numeracy outcomes.
“It is essential that teachers and schools have the knowledge, skills, leadership and support to continually improve the quality of numeracy teaching across all areas of learning.
“This will focus attention on improving the essential numeracy skills of students from Prep to Year 12.”
Mr Beattie said the money would build teacher capacity in the teaching of numeracy through professional development programs and the development of teacher resource and training packages.
“It will also focus on the teaching of numeracy in the classroom and encourage teachers to teach numeracy in areas other than just mathematics lessons,” he said.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the numeracy initiative would build on the Literacy – the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006-2008, launched last year to boost literacy standards.
“Both plans recognise that quality teaching can make the single biggest difference to student outcomes, and ensure teachers have intensive training in literacy and numeracy,” Mr Welford said.
“It’s part of an overall focus we have on the fundamental keys to learning across all years and in all subjects.”
“In the last 12 months we have had a major focus on literacy and now we are turning our attention to improving teachers’ skills in the teaching of numeracy.
“Like the literacy framework, the numeracy initiative will focus on the professional development of teachers.
“This is aimed at improving not only teachers’ knowledge of numeracy, but also of the demands and opportunities in the curriculum for learning and applying numeracy.”
16 May, 2007
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000