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Title

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Education: Literacy

Database

House Hansard

Date

30-11-2004

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Electorate

Wakefield

Interjector

Albanese, Anthony, MP

SPEAKER, The

Latham, Mark, MP

Main Committee/Federation Chamber

 

Page

14

Party

LP

Presenter

 

Status

Final

Question No.

 

Questioner

Fawcett, David, MP

Responder

Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP

Speaker

 

Stage

Education: Literacy

Type

 

Context

Questions Without Notice

System Id

chamber/hansardr/2004-11-30/0018


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Tuesday, 30 November 2004
Page: 14


Mr FAWCETT (2:59 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Would the minister update the House about how the government is raising literacy and reading standards in all Australian schools?


Dr NELSON (Minister for Education, Science and Training) —I thank the member for Wakefield, a father of two children who is concerned for their education, for his question. On 4 April this year, I received a letter from an Australian mother, who said:

Dear Dr Nelson, I am a concerned mum with a son who, through no fault of his own, has been to hell and back learning to read. I have no qualifications in education and only a layman's understanding of the issues.

The letter says, in part:

Every year since Prep I have told his teachers that I thought he had a problem and every teacher has reassured me that he was fine, that he was working well in class, and that he was an average student. I don't understand how my son could write no more than his name at the top of the page for all of grade 3 and still be given a good report. I don't know why, when I told her my son did not know the difference between a vowel and a consonant or when to use a capital letter, his grade 4 teacher assured me it was not a problem.

Today I have announced that there will be a national inquiry into reading in Australian schools.

That mum is Yvonne Meyer. I have appointed that mum to a national inquiry into reading in Australian schools that will be chaired by Dr Ken Rowe. It will include deans of education, people who lead an understanding in research into teaching in Australian schools. It will include at least two parents who are articulate. It will be supported by a secretariat from my department. I have asked the inquiry to look at these things: the way in which reading is taught in Australian schools and what is happening in Australian schools, how our children are actually being taught to read, how they are being tested and, most importantly, how the next generation of teachers is being trained to teach our children how to read.

Opposition members interjecting—


Dr NELSON —I say to the Labor Party through its derision and ridicule as I attempt to give this answer: just go and spend one hour at the Exodus Foundation in Sydney's inner west—



The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Grayndler is warned!


Dr NELSON —and tell me why the state governments of this country can have a child spend five years in the education system and not read a word. Let the derision and ridicule of the Labor Party be recorded in Hansard.


Mr Latham —On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can the minister table the letter from Yvonne Meyer? It was a very long letter. He has quoted selectively from it, and I think the House deserves the full information provided in the letter by way of tabling.


The SPEAKER —No. The minister will not table the document.