MINISTER QUINN LAUNCHES NATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY STRATEGY - Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life – the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 is published [education.ie]
- Published: 08 July 2011
A wide ranging new strategy aimed at ensuring that every child leaves school having mastered literacy and numeracy is being launched today by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D.
Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, the National Strategy to improve literacy and numeracy among children and young people is a key pillar of the Programme for Government.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Quinn said "It is the government's belief that no child should leave school unable to read and write and use mathematics to solve problems. We know that there is currently much room for improvement and this strategy sets out the road map with concrete targets and reforms that will ensure our children, from early childhood to the end of second level, master these key skills."
Ambitious targets have been set under the Strategy to be achieved by 2020. Nationally, the aims include:
- At primary, increasing the number of children performing at Level 3 or above (the highest levels) in the national assessments of reading and mathematics by 5 percentage points
- Reducing the percentage performing at or below the lowest level (Level 1) by 5 percentage points
- At post-primary level, increasing the number of 15-year old students performing at Level 4 or above (the highest levels) in the OECD's PISA test of literacy and mathematics by at least 5 percentage points
- Halve the numbers performing at Level 1 (the lowest level) in PISA test of literacy and mathematics
- Improve early childhood education and public attitudes to reading and mathematics.
