Minister for Education and Youth Affairs Yvette Berry has today announced the appointment of an Expert Panel to conduct an independent inquiry into literacy and numeracy performance in the ACT.
"I look forward to receiving the Expert Panel's advice to ensure the ACT delivers the best possible education for all our children and young people, particularly those who start school without the advantages of some of their peers," Minister Berry said.
"We know the ACT performs well compared to other jurisdictions, but we are always striving to improve."
"This inquiry provides us with an opportunity to look at what is being done well in the ACT, as well as what has worked well across Australia and around the world."
"Through the inquiry we will gain local insights into the opportunities for strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes for all ACT public school students, with a particular focus on equity. The inquiry will also look at how supports for educators and students could be enhanced."
The members of the Literacy and Numeracy Expert Panel are:
Professor Barney Dalgarno (Chair)
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Canberra
Professor Mary Ryan
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts at the Australian Catholic University
Professor Catherine Attard
Professor in Mathematics Education and Deputy Director of the Centre for Educational Research within the School of Education at Western Sydney University
Associate Professor Pauline Jones
Associate Professor at the School of Education at the University of Wollongong
Tim McCallum
Executive Director of School Performance for the Regional North Operational Directorate in the NSW Department of Education
The Expert Panel will work with, and seek to reflect the views and aspirations of, the ACT community. It will consult with academics, educators, unions, parents, carers and students. Details of an open public submissions process will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Expert Panel's report will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly by the last sitting day in June 2024.
The Terms of Reference, as well as more information about the Expert Panel's inquiry and members, can be found at: www.education.act.gov.au/literacyandnumeracyinquiry.
