INTO calls for strategy to improve literacy levels

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has called for a National Literacy Committee to be set up to improve literacy…

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has called for a National Literacy Committee to be set up to improve literacy among primary school students.

Addressing INTO members at John F Kennedy Memorial School in Limerick, INTO General Secretary Senator Joe O Toole said it was important to acknowledge that there is a literacy problem.

He said about 15 per cent of adults have poor literacy skills and that early intervention is the most effective way of improving skills.

Senator O’Toole called for the setting up of specialist literacy courses and the appointment of 500 Specialist Literacy teachers.

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The intensive literacy course should include: classroom observation techniques and diagnostic assessment based on the pupil’s strengths rather than weaknesses; detailed programme planning and comparative studies in modern reading methodologies.

Senator O’Toole also called on the government to commit to granting adequate funding to help resolve the problem.

He said this would not be a cheap project and he estimated that costs would be in the region £20 million per year.

According to the recent OECD International Literacy Survey, about 25 per cent of Irish adults - or 500,000 people - have literacy problems. A Department of Education report last year found that one-in-10 children left primary school with significant literacy problems.

This report estimated that literacy levels have not improved in the past 20 years, despite improved investment in remedial education.