Education Minister meets Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce

The Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, today met with the Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce to discuss progress on ensuring all young people have the literacy and numeracy skills they need to succeed in life.

The Minster established the Taskforce in February 2008 and its role is to help finalise a strategy for the promotion of literacy and numeracy, and to report to the Department on the strategy’s effectiveness.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: “I had a very useful meeting with members of the Taskforce. The group has raised important issues that it believes should be addressed if we are to ensure that all our young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are to develop the literacy and numeracy skills they need.

"I am putting in place a range of inter-connected policies, all part of the same jigsaw of reform – Every School a Good School, Revised Curriculum, Entitlement Framework, Transfer 2010, Irish medium Review, Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Review, Early Years Strategy, Review of Public Administration – all taken forward to promote equality and the raising of standards within the system.

"I will also shortly publish a revised literacy and numeracy strategy, which will aim to promote the raising of standards and narrow the gaps in achievement, particularly among the most and least disadvantaged young people. I am very grateful to the Taskforce for its input to the strategy.

"I would like to thank Sir Robert Salisbury and the members of the Taskforce for their valuable contribution and I look forward to receiving their next report.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Literacy & Numeracy Taskforce was established in February 2008 as one of the agreed actions in response to the 2006 Audit Office and PAC reports into literacy and numeracy in the north of Ireland.

2. Members of the Taskforce are:

• Sir Robert Salisbury – Chair
• Maureen Smyth, Principal, Cumber Claudy Primary School
• Andy McMorran, Principal, Ashfield Boys’ High School
• Anne Moran, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ulster
• Dr Robbie McVeigh, Researcher and Chairperson, Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir, Derry’
• Dr Eemer Eivers, St Patrick’s College, Dublin
• Máire McGinn, Dean Brian Maguirc College Carrickmore

The Departments of Education, Employment and Learning and Social Development have observer status on the Taskforce.

3. The Taskforce’s remit includes providing an annual report to the Department, which is available via the Department of Education website.

4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.