The Hon Julie Bishop MP - Minister for Education, Science and Training, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues

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Media Release

Students to benefit from new literacy and numeracy vouchers

8 May 2007

BUDB 25/07

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today announced funding of $457.4 million over four years to provide direct assistance to thousands of school students through national literacy and numeracy vouchers.

This initiative will provide a $700 tutorial voucher per child to parents whose children do not achieve current literacy or numeracy benchmarks in Years 3, 5 and 7. Following the introduction of national literacy and numeracy tests in 2008 that will also cover Year 9, vouchers will also be extended to eligible students in Year 9 from 2009.

"The primary years of a child’s schooling are critical to their learning and development," Minister Bishop said. "Students who are falling below literacy or numeracy benchmarks will have difficulty progressing satisfactorily at school, so it is vital to provide them with extra assistance both before and after they complete their primary education."

"Extra support in Years 7 and 9 will target students whose successful transition to secondary school has been, or will be limited by their low-level literacy or numeracy skills as well as those who are most at risk of not completing secondary school," Minister Bishop said.

"This assistance will have a positive impact on young people and their future capacity to contribute to Australian society and the workforce."

This initiative represents a guarantee to parents that assistance will be provided to those children who need it, regardless of the school they attend.

"The Australian Government’s investment in this important initiative demonstrates our commitment to improving the literacy and numeracy standards of young Australians so that they have the critical foundation skills which will enable them to move successfully into further study or work," Minister Bishop said.

Media Contacts

Minister Bishop’s Office: Tory Vidler 0414 228 727

Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323

Non-media queries:
1300 363 079

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

Literacy and numeracy are foundation skills for a successful education and a productive life. Improved literacy and numeracy outcomes encourage higher school retention rates, lead to improved employment opportunities, enhance engagement in society and support future economic prosperity.

Year 3 is the first time students are assessed against national benchmarks below which students have difficulty progressing satisfactorily at school.

Year 5 is the final opportunity in many states to identify students who are below the national benchmark before they finish primary school and make the transition to secondary school.

Year 7 provides an ideal opportunity to identify students who are below the national benchmark as they enter or are about to enter secondary school and are therefore at risk of not being able to maximise their secondary education.

Year 9 is the final opportunity to identify students who are below the national benchmark before they leave compulsory schooling and make the transition to further study or the workforce. While this programme aims to pick up students in need as early as possible in school life, this comprehensive measure will ensure no-one misses out along the way.

Who will benefit?

Students not meeting the national literacy and numeracy benchmarks in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

The prosperity of the Australian economy through the students’ improved future capacity to contribute to society and the workforce.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

$457.4 million over four years (2007-08 to 2010-11)

What have we done in the past?

The Year 3 Reading Assistance Voucher programme, which is running in the 2007 school year, is providing targeted support for children who did not meet the Year 3 national reading benchmark in 2006.

There has been no previous programme to provide literacy and numeracy assistance of this kind for Years 5, 7 and 9 students.

When will the initiative conclude?

This is an ongoing programme.