April 2013
Tuesday, 02 April 2013 16:06

$41m for literacy and numeracy

Seven local schools will share in more than $41 million to help students, who are falling behind, to improve their literacy and numeracy.

State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said students in 309 schools across Victoria will benefit from the funding injection, including:

Bairnsdale Secondary College – $251,000 Maffra Secondary College – $150,000 Lakes Secondary College – $55,000 Lakes Entrance Primary School – $42,000

In the Catholic school sector, St Brendan’s Primary – Lakes Entrance, St Joseph’s Primary – Orbost and St Michael’s Primary – Heyfield also received support under this program.

Education Minister Martin Dixon said the partnership would provide significant benefits to East Gippsland students.

“This is a boost for those students who need extra support in literacy and numeracy,” Mr Dixon said.

“Schools will be able to run additional programs to help students who are falling behind in literacy and numeracy.

“While Victoria always performs well in literacy and numeracy compared with other states, the Victorian Coalition Government is aiming higher – we want to be among the global top tier of education systems. This is another step towards that goal.”

The funding builds on the investment of over $740 million over four years the Victorian Coalition Government has directed towards literacy and numeracy support.

Mr Bull, said there are a range of programs available to improve literacy and numeracy with individual schools best placed to decide the most appropriate programs.

“The Victorian government will support schools in their efforts with funding to commence at the start of term two.

“The money will help build on the skills of youth in such a vital area of life, as well as aiding teachers in their roles by building their own professional skills in order to better educate the youth of Gippsland East,” said Mr Bull.

The National Partnership funding complements the Victorian Coalition Government’s range of initiatives already in place to support student performance, including $24.3 million to recruit 100 new maths and science specialists, 100 scholarships to encourage university science graduates into teaching, and $2.5 million School Specialisation Grants program, which enabled 25 schools to specialise in a field of their choice.

Published in Media