The English Spelling Society

Media release. Sept 21 2012

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From: Allan Campbell, Christchurch, member;
Jack Bovill, chair, London

Comment on release of National Standards by Education Minister

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"There is an 80 percent glass ceiling for reading achievement in all English-speaking countries, and the figures released by Education Minister Hekia Parata confirm this is still in place in New Zealand," said Allan Campbell, a Christchurch member of the London-based English Spelling Society. "Our dysfunctional spelling retards many of our learners, particularly at primary school level.

"Until we start cleaning up our spelling, learning to read, a very basic skill, will always be unnecessarily difficult for our learners, and hold many of them back", he added.

Ends