Literacy and numeracy gets hand up

Literacy and numeracy gets hand up

One of New Zealand’s charitable community trusts is putting its weight behind efforts to improve literacy and numeracy standards among school children, but its financial donation to the cause is designed to ensure a fun approach to learning.

The Eastern and Central Community Trust extends from Poverty Bay, south through Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, Wairarapa, Horowhenua and Manawatu.

The community trust has announced $185,000 towards a summer reading programme, which is delivered through more than 30 libraries in its region, and to several others further afield. The summer E.C.READ’N programme is in its 13th year and has been extended to include ‘winter warmer’ and Te Reo Maori language versions, with more than 8,000 children taking part each year.

The community trust has this month approved the donation for the unique reading programme, delivered through a central committee of librarians and volunteers who develop the necessary resources to help even small, sole charge libraries to be involved. Children receive a kit with stickers, games, information and a contract that commits participants to the programme.

During the six week programme children must report to their library for one-on-one advice on book selection and instruction on library use. They are encouraged to read as many books and record their progress, with incentives offered to young readers.

The community trust has provided almost $2 million for the programme since 1997.

A donation of $55,000 is also being made towards a similar learning programme focused on maths. The ‘Maths is Fun’ programme is a family orientated, incentive based programme to interest, encourage and stimulate children’s numeracy knowledge. It is now in its sixth year and helps bridge the gap between what children learn formally at school and everyday life experiences.

“Numeracy and literacy are vitally important for children and both these programmes are designed around learning in a fun, supported environment and with rewards,” says the community trust’s Donation Manager Bev Watkins.

“Both programmes continue to grow in popularity and the successes are clearly measurable,” she says.

ENDS

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