Research project to aid numeracy skills of primary students

A $3 million research project is to be established to improve the numeracy levels of young students.

Across the state 28 primary schools will pioneer the three-year long Victorian Early Years Numeracy Research Project.

The project, to be conducted by the Australian Catholic University and experts from Monash University, will focus on mathematics development in the crucial early years of schooling from Years Prep to Two.

The project will be based on the Government's Early Years Literacy Program and will examine classroom teaching programs, school and classroom organisation, early intervention, monitoring and assessment, and special assistance; and will look at home, school and community partnerships.

The Government has already committed the equivalent of 1000 new full-time teachers dedicated to teaching young students to read and write and feels it is now time to give further attention to numeracy. 

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Education, February 6,1999)