Chamber
Plenary, 14 Jan 2010
14 Jan 2010 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Literacy Commission
I welcome the debate, as it gives me another opportunity to thank publicly the members of the literacy commission—some of whom are in the gallery—restate the Scottish Government's commitment to continually improve literacy, remind members about the work that is under way and anticipate further necessary work.
I also thank Mr McNulty and the Labour Party for initiating the debate and, indeed, Rhona Brankin and others for establishing the literacy commission. It has been a valuable innovation and its report is of great importance to us. I think that Iain Gray called it a wake-up call, and I hope that the debate will reflect across the parties the concern that the commission has reminded us that, although improving literacy skills is not a new priority for the Government or its predecessors, it is important to refocus from time to time on what needs to be achieved in Scotland. That is what we need to do now.
Reducing adult literacy and numeracy problems is one of the indicators on the Scotland performs website. That indicator is moving in the right direction; in adult literacy, we are making progress. We await the results of a national survey into adult literacy and numeracy levels throughout Scotland. It is the first such survey in more than a decade and will provide an updated baseline to measure progress better.
The Scottish Government and previous Administrations have identified the relationship between literacy and poverty. We have done so particularly in the health inequalities framework and "Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland", our anti-poverty framework. People with good literacy skills are more likely to maintain and enhance their own health and wellbeing and that of their family. They are also more likely to adapt and improve skills, get a job and stay in productive employment. Those are positives that arise out of reducing adult literacy problems in particular.
I am grateful to the literacy commission, which has considered a range of issues independently and come to some important conclusions about how we advance literacy across society. Those conclusions can add to, help to develop, underpin and expand the work that is already going on.
It is important to note—without in any way being complacent—that the need to improve literacy is not unique to Scotland; it is a persistent problem throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. International attainment surveys show that the performance of young people in Scotland in reading and writing compares not unfavourably with performance within the UK and internationally, although much more needs to be done.
I will start with what is being done. I acknowledge the good work of our nurseries, schools, colleges, communities and libraries—all the individuals and institutions that help people to improve and build literacy skills, whatever age they are. For example, in West Dunbartonshire, a literacy initiative tailored to local circumstances was aimed at transforming the achievement of all children in the four-to-seven age range and eradicating illiteracy in the school population. The programme involved a range of approaches—including synthetic phonics, about which I am sure we will hear more—and resulted in a 6 per cent reduction in illiteracy levels. Also in that local authority area, practitioners from all social studies departments came together to produce resources to help to embed the building of literacy skills into the teaching of history, geography and modern studies, thereby encouraging the idea of literacy across learning.
I am aware of an active literacy programme in North Lanarkshire, with all teachers receiving associated continuing professional development. Teachers are provided with resources to help them employ tactile approaches to phonics and to encourage young people to learn from one another. The programme has sparked cross-authority sharing—pupils from Kildrum primary school recently visited a school in South Ayrshire to discuss their positive experiences.
As Mr McNulty said, I met members of the literacy commission this morning and enjoyed an interesting discussion about its report and recommendations and how it might go forward. The discussion reflected the aims of this Government—certainly my own aims—to drive up standards of learning and teaching to ensure that our young people have the literacy skills they need, and I am in complete agreement with many of the commission's recommendations. I agree that we need to take continuing action to improve literacy in Scotland; that we need sustained commitment from all levels of Government and educational management to improve standards of literacy at all levels; and that all local authorities have a strong role to play and should have literacy plans suited to their individual circumstances.
I also thank Mr McNulty and the Labour Party for initiating the debate and, indeed, Rhona Brankin and others for establishing the literacy commission. It has been a valuable innovation and its report is of great importance to us. I think that Iain Gray called it a wake-up call, and I hope that the debate will reflect across the parties the concern that the commission has reminded us that, although improving literacy skills is not a new priority for the Government or its predecessors, it is important to refocus from time to time on what needs to be achieved in Scotland. That is what we need to do now.
Reducing adult literacy and numeracy problems is one of the indicators on the Scotland performs website. That indicator is moving in the right direction; in adult literacy, we are making progress. We await the results of a national survey into adult literacy and numeracy levels throughout Scotland. It is the first such survey in more than a decade and will provide an updated baseline to measure progress better.
The Scottish Government and previous Administrations have identified the relationship between literacy and poverty. We have done so particularly in the health inequalities framework and "Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland", our anti-poverty framework. People with good literacy skills are more likely to maintain and enhance their own health and wellbeing and that of their family. They are also more likely to adapt and improve skills, get a job and stay in productive employment. Those are positives that arise out of reducing adult literacy problems in particular.
I am grateful to the literacy commission, which has considered a range of issues independently and come to some important conclusions about how we advance literacy across society. Those conclusions can add to, help to develop, underpin and expand the work that is already going on.
It is important to note—without in any way being complacent—that the need to improve literacy is not unique to Scotland; it is a persistent problem throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. International attainment surveys show that the performance of young people in Scotland in reading and writing compares not unfavourably with performance within the UK and internationally, although much more needs to be done.
I will start with what is being done. I acknowledge the good work of our nurseries, schools, colleges, communities and libraries—all the individuals and institutions that help people to improve and build literacy skills, whatever age they are. For example, in West Dunbartonshire, a literacy initiative tailored to local circumstances was aimed at transforming the achievement of all children in the four-to-seven age range and eradicating illiteracy in the school population. The programme involved a range of approaches—including synthetic phonics, about which I am sure we will hear more—and resulted in a 6 per cent reduction in illiteracy levels. Also in that local authority area, practitioners from all social studies departments came together to produce resources to help to embed the building of literacy skills into the teaching of history, geography and modern studies, thereby encouraging the idea of literacy across learning.
I am aware of an active literacy programme in North Lanarkshire, with all teachers receiving associated continuing professional development. Teachers are provided with resources to help them employ tactile approaches to phonics and to encourage young people to learn from one another. The programme has sparked cross-authority sharing—pupils from Kildrum primary school recently visited a school in South Ayrshire to discuss their positive experiences.
As Mr McNulty said, I met members of the literacy commission this morning and enjoyed an interesting discussion about its report and recommendations and how it might go forward. The discussion reflected the aims of this Government—certainly my own aims—to drive up standards of learning and teaching to ensure that our young people have the literacy skills they need, and I am in complete agreement with many of the commission's recommendations. I agree that we need to take continuing action to improve literacy in Scotland; that we need sustained commitment from all levels of Government and educational management to improve standards of literacy at all levels; and that all local authorities have a strong role to play and should have literacy plans suited to their individual circumstances.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S3M-5512, in the name of Des McNulty, on the report of the literacy commission. Unless there a...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
I express my gratitude to the members of the literacy commission, some of whom are in the gallery, for their efforts in producing the substantial report that...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am a little bit confused by Labour's position, given that Mr McNulty and all his Labour colleagues voted on 7 January 2009 for exactly the same wording as ...
Des McNulty:
Lab
Perhaps Mr Fraser should read carefully the literacy commission's report, which makes an overwhelming case against the approach that he and his Conservative ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell):
SNP
I welcome the debate, as it gives me another opportunity to thank publicly the members of the literacy commission—some of whom are in the gallery—restate the...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
There is clearly a big issue about adult illiteracy and the impact that it has on families. What expectation does the cabinet secretary have that the single ...
Michael Russell:
SNP
That positive suggestion from Johann Lamont that the single outcome agreement process—a developing process that was positively discussed yesterday at the mee...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
The term "functional literacy" is central to the matter. In West Dunbartonshire the concept of functional literacy is used as a benchmark to measure progress...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I do not want to get into what my predecessor or her predecessor or any other predecessor did. I recognise the term, but one of the things that the literacy ...
Des McNulty:
Lab
The real question is partly a matter of priorities. What is the Government's priority? Is it improving literacy or reducing class sizes? Even more important,...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am very deliberately not talking all the time about class sizes. I have discussed the subject in a paragraph almost 11 minutes into my speech. However, I t...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Michael Russell:
SNP
No. Sorry, but I would like to finish this point.The means by which literacy is achieved are many and varied. I accept the literacy commission's recommendati...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Michael Russell:
SNP
No, I do not want to take a point from Johann Lamont. It is possible to see a contribution being made by smaller class sizes, just as it is possible to see a...
Murdo Fraser:
Con
Is that another U-turn?
Michael Russell:
SNP
Although Mr Fraser might point out that we voted for such an amendment the last time, times change.I move amendment S3M-5512.2, to insert after "literacy act...
Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
We warmly welcome this debate on a topic that the Scottish Conservatives have long believed is the most important in education. I, too, pay tribute to the wo...
Michael Russell:
SNP
Just to be absolutely clear, I neither said that nor believe it. The work that is required to be done to continue to build a curriculum for excellence is wha...
Elizabeth Smith:
Con
Cabinet secretary, I am more than happy to join in that work, but the assertion that teachers across the board have never been involved in dealing with liter...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I never said that.
Elizabeth Smith:
Con
Forgive me, but the cabinet secretary's words indicated exactly that.Let me be clear: there is absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel. Many good things hav...
Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
Does the member recognise the value of the continuing examination of literacy that is available through the national assessment bank materials, particularly ...
Elizabeth Smith:
Con
If the member is referring to NAB materials within secondary schools, I think that there are deep concerns about that process—
Hugh O'Donnell:
LD
I referred to primary schools.
Elizabeth Smith:
Con
Regarding the primary set-up, I think that most teachers are anxious that there should be considerable improvement in the testing process to ensure that pupi...
Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
In speaking to the amendment in the name of my colleague Margaret Smith, I add my thanks to the members of the literacy commission for their work in producin...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Don't worry—there is a numeracy debate next week.
Hugh O'Donnell:
LD
Thank you for that.We agree with the report's recommendation that there should be a sustained policy commitment at all levels of government to providing our ...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
My belief in the importance of literacy was developed during the many years that I spent as a teacher working with youngsters who were failing to acquire bas...