NZPF Honours Educational Icon

NZPF Honours Educational Icon

- 16th April 2007 -

The New Zealand Principals’ Federation today paid tribute to Dame Marie Clay, who passed away on Friday following a short illness.

Dame Marie Clay changed the face of primary school literacy, both in New Zealand and across the world, with the Reading Recovery early intervention programme. The programme gives specialized individual instruction to six year old children with reading difficulties, and has done so for over 20 years. It is now being used in New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the United States.

NZPF President Judy Hanna said Dame Marie’s work put New Zealand literacy on the map. “The Reading Recovery programme has given literally hundreds of thousands of children a second chance at learning to read. Without Dame Marie Clay’s vision and dedicated leadership in literacy, this would not have been possible. She remains an educational icon throughout the world.”

Judy Hanna says Dame Marie’s legacy will live on, as the Reading Recovery programme continues in schools. “Principals, teachers, students and parents are saddened by the news of Dame Marie’s passing. We extend our sympathies to her family.”

-ENDS-