In 2011, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, published Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life: The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011- 2020. The strategy sets targets for improving literacy and numeracy standards to be achieved by the year 2020.
An integrated whole-school approach
The promotion of an integrated, whole-school approach to literacy and numeracy is critical at post-primary level. The Strategy provides that “Literacy and numeracy activity can become contextualised, meaningful and purposeful to the learner through many subjects and areas of learning.” In that context, strengthening skills in this area is a task for all teachers, not just teachers of language or mathematics.
“Literacy includes the capacity to read, understand and critically appreciate various forms of communication including spoken language, printed text, broadcast media, and digital media.” Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, 2011.
