Inaugural National Literacy and Numeracy Results Released

Releasing Tasmania’s inaugural 2008 national literacy and numeracy test results, Premier David Bartlett said today that the results showed significant investment in Education by the State Government was starting to pay off, however he conceded there was still a lot more to be done.

“Our investment in the Early Years is beginning to show results with Tasmanian Year 3 students performing strongly across all areas.

“While I am greatly encouraged to see progress being made in some key areas, I want to see Tasmania at the top of the class when it comes to meeting all national literacy and numeracy benchmarks.

“The Government will be investing another $4.026 million during 2008-09 in the early years of education with over 100 schools throughout the State now involved.

“Now in its third year of implementation, the Launching into Learning initiative is on target to achieve its aim to give Tasmania’s youngest children the best possible start in life.

“More than 97% of Year 3 students have achieved at or above the national minimum standard in writing, ranking second overall. (95.4%)

“In spelling in Year 3, more than 92% of students are at or above the national minimum standard and in numeracy Tasmania has a greater proportion (96.7%) of Year 3 students achieving at or above the national minimum standard than the Australian figure (95%),” he said.

Mr Bartlett said that for the first time, all students in Years 3,5,7 and 9 across Australia were tested using common tests in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation and Numeracy in each year group.

“We now know how Tasmanian students performed in relation to other students in their particular year group, against the national average and, in time, relative to previous achievement.

“The aim of the National Assessment program is to find out information about what students can do and where they need additional help.

“This in turn assists teachers with planning their teaching and learning programs,” he said.

Mr Bartlett said that overall, after combining the ranks of all year groups against national minimum standard results Tasmania was ranked fourth in reading and numeracy and fifth in writing, grammar and punctuation.

“Years 7 students were mostly ranked fourth across all areas having achieved very close to the national minimum standard.

“Year 9 students’ best achievement was reading where they were above the Australian average and were ranked fourth. Other Year 9 results ranged from fourth to seventh ranking.

“What this year’s results show is that we must continue with our innovative reform agenda to ensure that all Tasmanian children finish school with functional literacy and numeracy skills.

“We will be spending $32 million over the next four years in lifting literacy standards in primary schools especially targeting low SES schools.

“More importantly these funds will support those students where there is the highest learning need,” he said.

“I will also be considering the recently released National Numeracy Review and its implication for improving numeracy performance in the State.

Mr Bartlett said that we must all put our effort over the next decade to lift the level of educational outcomes in Tasmania from mostly in the middle range to the top in Australia.

“We must identify the areas where to put our best efforts.

“In this year’s State Budget, the Government injected a record $1.06 billion into the Tasmanian education and training sector and we are now spending above the national average per capital on students in our schools.

“But my ambition is to be at the top of all Australia states.

“The Government is determined to take action to improve the educational outcomes of all Tasmanian students but it is not something that can be achieved with short-term fixes.

“Today’s results are just the beginning. We are committed to long-term work and real results’” he said.

“I will be unpacking today’s results in more depth on Tuesday and will outline the Government’s plans on how we can help students who may be falling behind.

Parents will be provided with their child’s test results from 22 September.

Copies of the NAPLAN Summary Report on Achievements on Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, and Numeracy can be found at www.naplan.edu.au

Further information: Vanessa Fabris on 0419 006 572