NESF calls for a policy on literacy for all children
nmcnamara November 13th, 2009
A major report launched on 11th November by the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) shows that there has been little change in levels of child literacy problems among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds over the last 25 years.
The report focused on the implementation of the Department of Education and Science’s 2005 Action Plan, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS), which sets out Government policy on educational disadvantage, including literacy. The DEIS target group is primary school children living in disadvantaged communities, and nearly one in three pupils attending schools there have serious literacy difficulties – three times the national average. The poor levels of literacy for these pupils are in marked contrast to the national average, as Ireland is one of the top-performing countries in terms of overall literacy performance for those aged 15. To read more about the report click here.