Minister Quinn Launches 'Write to Read' Literacy Project

The Minister for Education and Skills has launched the second phase of the Write to Read Literacy Project, a College School Partnership Project focussing on Literacy.

The Launch took place at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra on Dublin's northside.

The findings of the pilot project were impressive and clearly show the significant results that can be achieved in improving literacy attainment for children when sufficient efforts are made to identify and address the weaknesses which currently exist in our schools.

The numbers of children below the 10th percentile in reading on a standardised test were reduced by 75% and that at the end of the study 20% of children were above the 80th percentile whereas there had been no children in this category at the beginning of the study.

This evidence clearly shows that, given the right conditions, there should be no obstacles preventing children from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve to the level of their more advantaged peers.

Speaking at the launch, Ruairi Quinn TD said: "In the Programme for Government my commitment to radically improving the literacy and numeracy standards achieved by our young people is clear.

"I have indicated that this will be one of the major goals of the Government and one where I am determined that we will address the serious weaknesses in young people's learning that national assessments, inspection reports and international surveys have identified.

"Clearly the changes which are necessary to meet the challenge of reversing the downward trend will need to start at early childhood and primary education but this is an issue for second level schools as well.”

The Programme for Government commits to developing and implementing a National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy which will provide a comprehensive set of measures to improve learning outcomes for children and young people.

The Department of Education and Skills is engaged in a public consultation process on the contents of the Strategy.

Minister Quinn thanked Dr. Eithne Kennedy, who has developed and grown this literacy initiative, having undertaken a significant body of research as part of her own studies, and having conducted the initial pilot over the last two years.

Minister Quinn added: "The research, such as that undertaken by Dr. Kennedy is a valuable addition to the work currently underway in my Department.

"Dr Kennedy's proposal to commence phase 2 of the pilot project and to extend the roll-out of the 'Write to Read' intervention to a wider pilot area is very welcome.

"It is, I believe, entirely consistent with our new approach in relation to the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy currently being finalised.

"Write for Read" has shown that targeted Continuing Professional Development for teachers and schools can have a significant effect on improving literacy standards and that is why the provision of such Continuing Professional Development, especially in DEIS schools, is a core part of the Literacy Strategy."

(BMcN)