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The Nationals Building a Brighter Future for Young Victorians in Latrobe Valley

Push for improvement of school literacy and numeracy standards in the early years.

By Portal Admin - 5th November 2018 - Back to News

Work to lift school literacy and numeracy standards must take place in the early years, not VCE level, The Nationals candidate for Morwell, Sheridan Bond has said.

Trying to improve literacy and numeracy standards at VCE level is completely misguided and completely at the wrong end of the education process, but that’s exactly the plan announced by Daniel Andrews this week.

Sheridan Bond said by Year 12, students were focussed on preparing to leave school, enter further study or enter the workforce.

"Under Daniel Andrews’ plan, they will be identifying students with learning problems at the end of their schooling, not at the beginning," Ms Bond said.

"A better approach is to teach and test children to read and write in the early years and throughout their primary education, so they have a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy from the very beginning that carries them through to VCE."

Despite receiving billions of dollars extra for education, Daniel Andrews has lost control of school standards and outcomes.

A Liberal Nationals Government will make sure the youngest Victorians have a brighter future, investing in better schools and early learning and establishing programs to give our children a strong foundation for primary, secondary and tertiary education.

This includes a Phonics Test in Year 1, to check that our children are building a foundation for lifelong learning.

"Trying to improve literacy and numeracy standards at VCE level is simply too little, too late and adds further pressure to children studying for their VCE. The last thing they need is more tests at during the final stages of their secondary education," Ms Bond said.

"If elected, we’ll establish the $80 million Brighter Futures Fund to lift education opportunities in rural and regional communities through better support for parents and children in the early years of schooling.

"We’ll also invest in early language and literacy programs with a $16 million grants program to give our most vulnerable young Victorians a helping hand before they start school.

"Only The Nationals in government will provide children with a brighter future by investing early learning and lifting literacy and numeracy standards for primary school students."

Results of the most recent Australian Early Development Census show 15 of Victoria’s 20 worst performing LGAs for early childhood education are in rural and regional Victoria.

The $80 million Fund will be invested in integrated education hubs – a one-stop-shop for allied health, early childhood, maternal and child health services, and tertiary education.


Eary Learning

Source: http://gippsland.com/

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