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Literacy in the E arly Y ears in N ew Z ealand: policies, politics and pressing reasons for change
Author(s) -
McLachlan Claire,
Arrow Alison
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
literacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1741-4369
pISSN - 1741-4350
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-4369.2011.00598.x
Subject(s) - literacy , population , advertising , sociology , business , demography , pedagogy
Although priding itself on high rates of literacy achievement, N ew Z ealand's track record in the last two decades has noticeably declined. Successive N ew Z ealand governments have invested heavily in trying to redress this decline with limited success. Demographic changes in population due to immigration provide a partial explanation, but arguably, inconsistencies and omissions in policies and curriculum for early childhood and primary education are also factors to be considered further. Evidence regarding N ew Z ealand's effectiveness in promoting literacy since the early 1990s is explored, against a potential policy framework for the E arly Y ears, identifying the challenges and pressing issues for change.