More teachers of reading

Press, 23 April 1984, Page 2

More teachers of reading

PA Wellington The Government will spend just over $600,000 employing more teachers for the reading recovery programme, said the Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, yesterday. Mr Wellington said at the Collingwood Area School he was convinced that the reading recovery programme was outstandingly successful in helping six-year-olds who were at risk of failure in reading. The Government had approved from September this year the equivalent of 24 more full-time teaching positions for reading recovery work, he said. “In addition, the Cabinet has approved the training of a further six tutors during 1984 to extend the existing coverage. The total cost of this new policy is $604,000. Mr Wellington said the Government had also approved spending $600,000 in 1985, 1986, and 1987 to improve the primary school equipment scheme. •

Mr Wellington also announced a boost in Government support for rural schools.

To help to protect subject choices of pupils in area schools with falling rolls, the Cabinet had approved another 8.5 full-time teaching equivalent jobs from February 1 next year.

“This means that an area school facing a loss in staffing entitlement resulting from a decline in its roll will have staffing protection to cover existing programmes so that it can make the necessary adjustments to its curriculum,” he said.

It will cost the Government $lll,OOO. Other moves announced by the Minister were a 5.1 per cent increase in Government assistance limits for school transport, to take effect in the third term this year, and an additional $1.2 million to be spent over the next three years on upgrading primary school equipment.