Flashback: Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington at Kingaroy State School for the presentation of the Premier’s Reading challenge (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)

April 7, 2014

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says the literacy and numeracy of school students in the South Burnett will be boosted following the implementation of the Great Results Guarantee initiative.

Mrs Frecklington said plans submitted by State schools to implement the program were now approved and had been published on State school websites.

“Queensland’s education system needs to be at the top of its game in order for the State to be able to innovate and rise to the challenges of tomorrow,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“The Great Results Guarantee has enabled our schools to make a decision on what will best meet their literacy and numeracy requirements, and implement that change on a local level with input from the local community, teachers and students.

“Parents and community members can see what each of our schools will be implementing as all schools have their Great Results Guarantee published on their website.”

For example, Kingaroy State School has received $109,038 in funding and are working to improve student outcomes by:

  • Employing a teacher to work with small groups of Year 2 & 3 students to provide intensive intervention
  • Employing a Teacher Aide for the remainder of 2014 to deliver the Chatterbox Oral Language program to Prep students and the co-ordination of the Reading Eggs program across the school
  • Engaging a part-time teacher to deliver ELF and PAL early literacy programs
  • Introducing an incentivised home reading program
  • Parent and community education sessions around the importance of attendance and home reading
  • Purchasing an on-line reading program
  • Building teacher capacity and professional development

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said it was important to invest in our younger generation.

“Improved literacy and numeracy are essential to taking Queenslanders from kindergarten to meaningful employment. These skills enable them to develop their full potential and participate fully in our society and our growing economy,” Mr Langbroek said.

The Great Results Guarantee initiative, announced in January, allocated $131 million this year to Queensland’s more than 1230 State schools.

Schools were required to enter into an agreement that every student would either achieve the National Minimum Standard for literacy and numeracy for their year level or have an evidence-based plan, developed by the school, in place to address their specific learning needs.