Media Release
19 September 2017
Greens Education Spokesperson and Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith says news that a numeracy and literacy test may be introduced for Year 1 students is yet another distraction by a test-obsessed LNP and a sound bite against a backdrop of under resourcing for early intervention in schools.
“It’s counter-productive to introduce a test in response to concerns at falling literacy and numeracy rates without corresponding plans to change how these are taught or how failing students are supported to learn,” said Ms Smith.
“If the NSW government is really serious about lifting learning achievement in its schools it will implement the full Gonski funding model and it will fund two years of pre-school early childhood learning.
“International studies have shown that children with two years of quality preschool education have better results in numeracy and literacy tests when they are older compared to children who have just one year or less.”
“The Greens are not opposed to testing and assessment for learning but we are opposed to introducing yet another layer of standardised testing with no evidence-based data to support its worth.
“This model in Britain has been an epic fail in terms of improving literacy and numeracy for early infants. We know that well-resourced public schools and qualified teachers with early intervention expertise are the solution to lifting individual student's literacy and numeracy skills."
“I call on the NSW Government to increase assistance to students of all abilities and to fund quality, affordable early childhood education,” said Ms Smith.