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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Literacy matters beyond the classroom, and this school shows how it works

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Education experts warn that low literacy skills are linked to poorer employment and health outcomes.
  • Parents are encouraged not to be overly alarmed by NAPLAN results, as they are a single snapshot and not diagnostic.
  • Ardeer Primary School in Melbourne has significantly improved literacy and numeracy through explicit teaching methods.

Education experts are urging parents to address concerns about low literacy skills early, warning of potential links to poorer employment and health outcomes later in life. Professor Tanya Serry from La Trobe University advised parents not to be overly alarmed by NAPLAN results, emphasizing they represent a single snapshot and are not diagnostic tests.

I would encourage parents not to shy away from it, but not to be too alarmed because it is one snapshot in time.

— Tanya SerryProfessor Serry advises parents on how to approach their child's NAPLAN results.

"If nothing else it's important to note that NAPLAN is not a diagnostic test, so where that dot lines up for a particular child doesn't mean that's exactly where the child is at and will stay at," Professor Serry said. She encouraged parents to discuss any worries with their child's school to see if the results align with classroom performance.

If nothing else it's important to note that NAPLAN is not a diagnostic test, so where that dot lines up for a particular child doesn't mean that's exactly where the child is at and will stay at.

— Tanya SerryProfessor Serry explains the limitations of NAPLAN testing.

Academic research indicates an association between low literacy and underemployment or unemployment, as well as negative consequences for physical and psychosocial well-being. However, Professor Serry cautioned that this is not a universal outcome for everyone with literacy challenges.

Literacy can be considered a gateway to academic success and then to a range of life opportunities.

— Tanya SerryProfessor Serry highlights the broader importance of literacy skills.

Meanwhile, Ardeer Primary School in Melbourne's west is celebrating its best NAPLAN results, with significant improvements in reading, writing, and numeracy for students in years 3 and 5. The school attributes its success to adopting an explicit teaching model five years ago, a method now being embraced by school systems across Australia. This approach involves clearly showing students what is expected and modeling the required learning.

We know that many people who leave school not competent in literacy are underemployed or perhaps unemployed so there are economic consequences.

— Tanya SerryProfessor Serry discusses the economic impact of low literacy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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