In Education HQ’s article, Evidence-aligned reading framework charts path to ‘near zero’ illiteracy in secondary schools, published 3 April 2024, Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM discusses the new Reading Pledge from Five from Five and Learning Difficulties Australia.
Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM, founder of Five from Five, says it is unacceptable that such a large number of secondary students lack the literacy skills needed to properly access the curriculum.
She calls on policymakers to commit to the Pledge, warning we have hundreds of thousands of secondary students across the country who have difficulty reading.
“…There is no excuse for children spending seven years in full-time education without learning to read,” Buckingham says.
“Every state and territory education minister must pledge to provide the keys to literacy to every child before they leave primary school and to do what is necessary to support those students still struggling in secondary school…”.