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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3832 ..

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 457

Schools and Colleges - Numeracy Improvement Programs

MS McRAE - asked the Minister for Education and Training on notice on 4 September 1997:

How much funding has been allocated to numeracy improvement programs in all schools and colleges in the years (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997.

MR STEFANIAK - the answer to Ms McRae's question is:

Whilst recognising that schools have a range of other educational responsibilities, the core business of our schools is to develop our students' literacy and numeracy competence so that they can be productive members of our community. Therefore, the entire education budget should be considered in this context.

In addition the Learning Assistance Program targets students with special learning needs in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Information for all years since 1990 is attached. Also see Question Number 459.

Decisions about the proportion of Learning Assistance resources allocated to numeracy or literacy improvement programs are made at the school level. The department does not hold information on the breakdown between numeracy and literacy.

The following additional funds have been recently allocated to numeracy improvement programs.

. In 1996, $3000 in the form of relief days was provided for teachers to present and participate in professional development focusing on numeracy.

. During 1996 and 1997 an executive officer with responsibility for the area of numeracy/mathematics has provided professional development for schools and individual teachers.

. In its 1996 budget the ACT Government established the Literacy and Numeracy Fund of $1.2m, which is estimated to generate $45,000 in the current financial year and $90,000 per annum thereafter. A Reference Group, comprising representatives of all stakeholders, recommended that in its first year the money be used to fund a pilot literacy project focusing upon Years 3-6. In its second year the project will include a numeracy component, but the precise nature of the numeracy project to be funded has yet to be determined.

Colleges, within their general staffing component have the facility to allocate resources to students with specific numeracy needs.

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