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- 8 March 2006
Numeracy Plan
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Mr STEVEN CHAYTOR: I direct my question to the Minister for Education and Training. What is the Government's plan to improve numeracy in public schools?
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: I thank the honourable member for Macquarie Fields for his interest in numeracy. Today I inform the House of a new three-year State numeracy plan, which is the first of its kind in New South Wales.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Minister has the call and will be heard in silence.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The Government is committed to raising the bar by improving the statewide numeracy performance of all public school students. It aims to close the gap between those whose numeracy skills are weakest and those whose are outstanding. It will do that by setting statewide targets for improvement, providing more information for parents on what their child should be achieving, tracking students for the first time as they move between schools so that teachers can quickly ascertain when they need help and where they need help, and improving teacher training and classroom resources. The Iemma Government is working hard to ensure that students have every opportunity to reach their potential in the public education system. We on this side of the House support the public education system; unlike honourable members opposite, we do not talk it down. The State Numeracy Plan 2006—
Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: I am sorry that I have to raise this point of order—
Mr SPEAKER: What is the point of order?
Mr Brad Hazzard: I am raising this point of order because the Minister is saying that we are talking it down. New South Wales students have the worst results in the year 7 tests—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will resume his seat.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will have an opportunity to make a speech at the appropriate time, which is not during question time. The Minister has the call.
[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Bathurst will cease interjecting.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The statewide numeracy plan is the first to set numeracy targets for all public school students. This Government wants to see achievable and sustained improvement in numeracy over the next three years. Numeracy and literacy are top priorities for this Government. It is an investment in the future of the State. We are equipping our students with the numeracy and literacy skills that they need to achieve their full potential. The Government has committed $538 million over the next four years on strategies to improve student achievement in key areas of learning through programs such as Count Me In and Counting On. In addition, the Government has committed $144 million towards the professional development of teachers. This will be directed where appropriate to supporting improvements in numeracy teaching. We have worked hard in New South Wales to build on strong foundations in numeracy, and the results are reflected in our performance at state, national and international levels.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Wakehurst will stop pointing his finger.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: We are not in the classroom now. In 2004-05, year 3 and year 5 students recorded excellent results in the basic skills test. In 2005, the mean score for year 3 numeracy was the highest ever recorded for all indigenous and non-indigenous students. Year 8 indigenous students achieved their highest ever mean score in numeracy. In terms of national benchmark results, our year 3 and year 5 students have consistently performed above the national average in numeracy. If honourable members opposite were to look at international assessments, such as the trends in international maths and science study, they would see that New South Wales year 8 students were ranked first overall among all Australian States and Territories in mathematics in 2003.
Our students are achieving outstanding results. Members opposite might want to take note, because they will not hear about this from the shadow Minister. He will not talk about levels of investment in literacy and numeracy. What is his claim? He claims that this Government is spending less on literacy and numeracy than the Coalition Government spent. The shadow Minister might benefit from our numeracy plan, because the maths are simple: $53 million spent by the Coalition Government on literacy and numeracy and $131 million spent by the Labor Government. That is a 150 per cent increase. The honourable member for Wakehurst should note that that is an increase and not a lessening.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is too much conversation in the Chamber.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: The honourable member might take a look at the numeracy plan. If he did so he might learn something from it. This Government's numeracy plan targets a 10 per cent reduction in the number of students who are weakest in numeracy outcomes in years 3, 5 and 7 assessments. The plan sets challenging but attainable targets for improvement. The Government is in touch with New South Wales families. It recognises that parents make a significant difference to the success of a student at school.
As part of the numeracy plan, the department will publish on its web site a simple and easy to read numeracy guide for parents. The guide, which will be entitled, "What my child should know in mathematics", is based on the expectations of the mathematics syllabus and will allow parents to work with schools and help their child to overcome any identified numeracy problems. Teachers have also been included in the plan. One of its features is having numeracy teacher networks within and between schools.
Mr Andrew Tink: Point of order—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I hope the honourable member for Epping is not being goaded by the honourable member for Wakehurst. The Chair takes a dim view of that sort of collusion.
Mr Andrew Tink: It is a point of order on numeracy. If the Government understood numeracy, the Minister would be the Deputy Premier!
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The honourable member for Epping will resume his seat. I am sorely tempted to call him to order, noting that it is only one call to order and should not challenge his numeracy skills. The Minister has the call.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: It is not problems on this side with counting; it is problems on the opposite side. We all know that. A feature of the Government's new plan will be numeracy teacher networks within and between schools. These networks will help teachers to work together, get expert advice and share advice on numeracy teaching. Teacher training is also an important consideration, and that is why numeracy materials will be made available to universities to support pre-service teacher training in student numeracy development. All new teachers entering the profession must have strong skills in and knowledge about numeracy teaching.
Tracking student progress within and between schools is vital to prevent students from falling behind. Schools will identify individual students and groups of students who need particular assistance in aspects of numeracy and respond to their needs.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for The Hills will cease calling out.
Ms CARMEL TEBBUTT: For the first time, with the technological advances now available, this information will systematically follow students between schools and from primary and high schools. The Government's numeracy plan will provide a co-ordinated statewide approach and it contains clear targets. This Government is interested in lifting the bar, closing the gap, and ensuring that all students in government schools can fulfil their potential.
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