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Media ReleaseNATIONAL LITERACY WEEK K1903 16 March 1999 Australian school students will benefit this year from a $1 million Federal Government boost to establish Australia’s first National Literacy Week, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp announced today. National Literacy Week will take place from 6 to 10 September 1999, to coincide with International Literacy Day on 8 September. "Every State and Territory has united to support the initiative and non-government school authorities will be invited to participate in celebrations, which will also include a focus on numeracy," said Dr Kemp. The $1 million funding will be used to support a range of activities in primary schools, homes and communities involving teachers, parents and businesses. Dr Kemp said that National Literacy Week would show the hard work Australian schools have undertaken to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of all Australian students.As a centrepiece event, the Federal Government will also provide substantial cash awards for primary schools that have demonstrated excellence in teaching literacy and numeracy. The Government will provide a total of 70 awards for primary schools across Australia. Ten of the awards will be valued at $10,000 each, and there will be 60 runner-up prizes of $1,000. States and Territories will be invited to nominate schools that have shown improvement in literacy and numeracy through good practice. The cash awards will go to government and non-government schools across Australia. Dr Kemp said the National Literacy Week Awards would have a strong equity focus, and will recognise that schools will have different starting points in terms of outcomes. "Awards will go to schools that have added significantly to students’ literacy and numeracy performance, not just those scoring highest in literacy and numeracy levels," said Dr Kemp. The Minister will announce the winners of the National Literacy Week Awards for Literacy and Numeracy Achievement during National Literacy Week. Award-winning schools will be able to use their prize money for a range of activities to support further improvements in literacy and numeracy. "National Literacy Week and the National Literacy Week Awards will build on recently-announced initiatives to improve literacy and numeracy standards among young Australians," said Dr Kemp. In March 1997 the Federal Government received support from all State and Territory Ministers for a national literacy and numeracy plan. Agreement was reached in April 1998 for Australia’s first national literacy standard for children in Years 3 and 5. Results of State assessments against the national benchmark for reading are due to be released shortly. Media contact: Samantha Herron or Peta Lane 02 6277 7460 or 0412 639 754
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