Government Book Week
It was a real pleasure to visit Taitoko School in Levin last week and hand out books during Government Book Week, which this year has the theme It’s Cool to Read. It’s Cool to Achieve.
The Books in Homes programme receives about $1.4 million a year from the Government and more than 100,000 children from primary schools all over New Zealand are now taking part. Because of it, I was able to hand out books to children in each classroom at Taitoko for them to then take home and enjoy.
The Books in Homes programme supports the Government’s key priority for improving literacy skills and it links to the proposed new National Standards for primary and intermediate students.
The new standards aim to set clear expectations of each child’s progress and achievement in reading, writing and maths. They will also make sure that reports to parents are in plain English and provide a clear picture of their child’s performance.
Setting National Standards will help teachers to identify and respond quickly when children are falling behind their peers. Intervening early will help ensure students stay on track to obtain worthwhile qualifications in our education system.
I’ve had good discussions with some local parents and teachers about the introduction of National Standards and I’m pleased that their interest has stimulated debate. Their feedback will be combined with other submissions received during the consultation round that has just closed.
Making sure that children leave school with good numeracy and literacy skills is also one of the reasons behind the difficult decision to reduce funding for adult and community education courses.
The Government is still funding $124 million over the next four years for community classes and I expect that the most successful courses will remain. But it may mean that some courses will have to become user-pays. The Government has had to make some tough decisions in the worst recession since the 1930s.
I have received some very constructive suggestions on how to make these classes more affordable – for example by changing the way that course co-ordinators are funded – and I intend to pass on these suggestions to the Minister of Education Hon Anne Tolley.
It’s exciting times in the education sector. Our great schools in Kapiti and Horowhenua with competent teachers need to be well supported by parents to ensure children get the best chance to realise their potential.