Literacy and Numeracy

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The Education Committee held its Annual Consultative Conference on the 18/19 November in Athlone and the theme was Literacy in a Changing World.

Full details of the conference can be found on the conference page, this includes the discussion document circulated to all delegates along with the webcast of the conference and presentations/resources provided by the keynote speakers and workshop presenters. The proceedings of the conference are currently being prepared and will be available later in 2012.

In November 2011, the DES issued Circular 56/2011 – Initial Steps in the Implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.

Background

The Department of Education and Skills published a Draft National Plan for Improving Literacy and Numeracy in November 2010 and invited comments from the public on the plan. A consultation process and analysis of submissions informed the drafting of Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life. The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020, which was launched on 8th July 2011. Click here to download the strategy.

A copy of the INTO Submission to the Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools is available here

Literacy and numeracy have become major issues for consideration by the INTO this year and in to the future. Three reports relating to English literacy and numeracy in the Irish educational system were published recently and drew a significant amount of public attention. These were:

• The Report of the 2009 National Assessments in English Reading and Mathematics
• Incidental Inspection Findings 2010: A Report on the Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools
• PISA 2009: Executive Summary
• PISA 2009: Summary Report

National Assessments of English reading and/or mathematics have been carried out at regular intervals since 1972. Second and sixth classes took part in the national assessments in 2009. The national assessments were carried out in the Irish-medium sector in May 2010 and these results will be available later this year.

PISA is an international assessment of the knowledge and skills of 15 year olds in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy, carried out in three yearly cycles In the first cycle of PISA (in 2000) and again in 2009, reading was the main focus, and therefore, comparisons can be made between the results of PISA in 2000 and 2009 in relation to reading literacy. PISA focuses on 'real-life' tasks rather than specific curriculum knowledge.

Ireland has also decided to participate in international assessments at primary level in 2011. PIRLS (Programme for International Reading Literacy Study) and TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) will be conducted among 4th class pupils in a number of randomly selected primary schools in Spring 2011.

The findings outlined in the above reports were some of the factors that prompted the DES to prepare a draft plan to improve literacy and numeracy in our schools.  Better Literacy and Numeracy for Children and Young People – A Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools, is relevant to both primary and post primary schools.