Foreword

 A key priority for our Government is the education of our children. Literacy and numeracy are fundamental skills necessary for children to reach their potential at school and to live rewarding lives.

In this report I examine how successful the New South Wales Department of Education and Training has been in improving the literacy and numeracy of NSW school children. During the last ten years the Department has spent a significant amount to improve literacy and numeracy in the State’s public schools.

Recent results of national literacy and numeracy tests show that NSW schools students performed well when compared with other Australian states.

However NSW, in common with other states, has a higher concentration of poorer results in some schools and some regions. In some areas one in five students are at or below the minimum level needed. The challenge is to ensure that these children are identified and helped. This group particularly includes children from indigenous, rural and lower socio-economic backgrounds.

This report recommends a number of changes that will better position schools to improve the literacy and numeracy of NSW children.

Peter Achterstraat

Auditor-General

October 2008