A Darndale school shows that an innovative literacy programme can work [IrishTimes]
- Published: 26 April 2011
TALK BACK: The decline in literacy levels can be stopped if systems are put in place, writes BRIAN MOONEY
The annual EU education report published last week revealed that the number of children in Irish schools who attained low achievement levels in reading increased from 11 per cent in 2000 to over 17 per cent in 2009.
Part of this can be attributed to the mainstreaming of children with disabilities into schools where the EU assessments of reading levels took place.
A further factor is the arrival of large numbers of immigrant children with poor to non-existent English literacy skills into our school system over the survey period.
A third and vital factor in explaining declining literacy levels is the increasing influence of electronic media. As any parent will confirm, there has been a dramatic increase in online activity among school-going children. Facebook is part of the everyday life of our children and they are texting or playing video games. It all makes the task of parents and teachers more difficult as they try to foster a love of reading.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
