New Zealand

Special Reading Initiatives

For much of the 2000s, a variety of policies, programs, and projects across the education sector—all focusing on improving literacy (reading and writing) achievement in English medium settings—were aligned under the overarching Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. The alignment of this strategy, which is no longer active, had three major themes: raising expectations for student achievement, improving teacher practice, and encouraging and supporting families to engage in their children’s education.⁶⁸ Te Reo Matatini Māori Medium Literacy Strategy, a literacy strategy for Māori medium education that is used for prioritizing future initiatives, has consolidated a number of strategies as they affect learners in bilingual and Māori medium settings.^69,70

A number of interventions have been designed for schools to support New Zealand children’s learning. Accelerated Literacy Learning as part of Programmes for Students is one example of a short term intervention designed to supplement classroom teaching in accelerating the progress of groups of students achieving below or well below the National Standards in reading and writing.^z,71

While national standards are a system level initiative, a consolidation of research on the importance of home-school partnerships has highlighted a number of effective interventions that promote greater synergy between schools and parents/whānau(family).⁷² Reading Together™ is an example of a family-based program available to schools in very low to moderately low socioeconomic communities that has been found to be effective in raising the reading achievement of students.^aa,73

The Alan Duff Charitable Foundation’s Duffy Books in Homes program is another example of a literacy program that serves socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Established in 1995, it provides books to children in schools and early childhood centers in these communities. Education providers work in partnership with financial sponsors throughout the year to provide the books and organize activities that encourage positive reading attitudes and behaviors among children.⁷⁴

The challenges of providing support for students with learning needs such as dyslexia has been brought to the forefront when the New Zealand House of Representative’s Education and Science Select Committee undertook an inquiry into the identification and support mechanisms for students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum disorders. In its report, the Committee made 46 recommendations, which included better options for early identification of dyslexia and dyspraxia.⁷⁵

The (current) government accepted 45 of the 46, and the Ministry of Education is now undertaking working to action them.⁷⁶

A number of organizations and initiatives support New Zealand adults in improving their literacy skills. Literacy Aotearoa, for example, provides community and workplace programs throughout New Zealand. The National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults, based at the University of Waikato, provides professional learning for tertiary sector educators and managers. It also supports assessment of adult literacy and numeracy skills and undertakes adult skills research. Literacy and numeracy are embedded in all Level 1 to 3 courses of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and in industry training along with the development of vocational skills. Funding is available for employers to set up literacy and numeracy programs for employees.