Education

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 12

Education

Sir, —I applaud your editorial of August 26. On education the Government confuses industry, literacy and success with elitism, and under-representation of some groups with inequity. Once students enjoyed “Free” education as long as they succeeded. Success earned further opportunity; scholarship generated scholarships! Now "equity” excuses inequity, penalising industry and success. Real solutions are avoided. University or polytechnic is no place for those who cannot read, or write their own name and address. We must urgently reduce the rate at which illiterates are created. Once entrenched, illiteracy is difficult to remedy; it must therefore be avoided. The 500 or so graduates from teachers colleges currently headed for the dole should be used to improve pupil-teacher ratios in junior schools. Classrooms are available! Rigorous assessment of literacy aand numeracy at about Standard 1, followed by remedial action, would mean fewer illiterates promoted “socially” to intermediate and secondary schools en route to gangs and prison. Failure to cope with literacy problems exacerbated by social promotion has created masses of “educationally deprived,” who predominate in costly, but mostly ineffective, Access schemes. — Yours, etc., W. C. CLARK. August 29, 1989.

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