Media Release from the Society for Quality Education

It’s International Literacy Day – Can You Read This?

TORONTO – September 7, 2006

With International Literacy Day upon us tomorrow, the Society for Quality Education believes we still have a long way to go to make sure that all children learn to read. The recent release of Ontario’s provincial test results indicates only marginal gains in achievement are possible unless there are dramatic changes to instruction of those essential basic skills in the early grades.

"The EQAO test results suggest that any improvement is happening at such a glacially-slow pace that it will be at least another six years before 75 per cent of students meet the standard. And is 75 per cent really something to celebrate? It still means that 25 per cent of Ontarians are unable to take full advantage of our rich and vibrant society," said SQE President Malkin Dare.

“It is also vital that we do the ‘preventive medicine’ to ensure that we teach reading and mathematics in ways that lead to success for the greatest number of students,” added the Society’s Executive Director Doretta Wilson.

Research shows that a systematically taught phonics program is the best way for young children to learn to read. SQE’s Stairway to Reading is a good example of such a method. The Society makes STR available free on its website so that parents and teachers can use it to help their children with reading difficulties.

The Society for Quality Education is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to providing facts about quality education. The Society works to advance public and private education in Canada by disseminating authoritative information on educational governance and methodology. The Society is funded entirely by private donations. More information can be found at www.societyforqualityeducation.org

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