What if you couldn't fill out a job application?
That's a fact of life for many Nova Scotians. Not being able to understand words written on a page. Or write a coherent sentence. It's an important social issue but also, as people with literacy challenges have a harder time getting employment, it's an economic issue. Low literacy rates generally mean lower paying jobs. Lower tax revenue for government. And higher social program spending.
Tackling literacy at an early age is important. It's why I make it a priority to volunteer with school reading programs. It's also why school boards across Nova Scotia have targeted students in need at the grade 1 level with a program called Reading Recovery. Tackling literacy challenges early - as soon as they are recognized - is effective and costs much less than addressing it later in life.
So it was surprising to hear the NDP order school boards to eliminate Reading Recovery. Especially since it's cheaper and more effective for literacy issues than other options such as Special Education.
It's the children who are hurt by this as they are denied a 12-20 week program to improve their reading, writing, and comprehension skills. It's children who will be more likely to be left out of opportunities in life as a result of not having strong literacy skills.
Children with poor literacy skills often suffer from self esteem issues that continue throughout their life. This is the future the NDP are willing to take a risk on.
While the NDP claim they will provide a cheaper replacement program for Reading Recovery by fall that will be equally effective, it's unlikely this is possible.
Most of the cost associated with delivering any literacy program is teaching staff. This cost will remain with any new child focused program.
A new program also can't match the effectiveness of Reading Recovery. A US study of 153 literacy programs showed Reading Recovery was the most effective. The US government recently increased funding to this program so more kids could access it as an investment in the future. So it seems highly unlikely the NDP will create an equally or more effective program within a few months.
This isn't about just being able to read the newspaper or the latest Harry Potter book. This is about preparing our youngest citizens for the future. Preparing them to help Nova Scotia prosper and continue to achieve great things.
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Andrew Younger
MLA - Dartmouth East
600 - 73 Tacoma Drive
Dartmouth, NS, B2W 3Y6
P: 902.406.4420
F: 902.406.4421
E: info@andrewyounger.ca
W: www.andrewyounger.ca
