Eastern Victoria Region
Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:43): (931) Being able to read and write proficiently gives children the very best start at life. In my very first week in this Parliament I called for a structured phonics approach to be mandated in this state to combat the horrific literacy rates that have put a whole generation at risk, particularly in some areas of Gippsland in my region where one in two children do not reach proficiency standards. Last week I was delighted to hear Mr Carroll’s announcement to do just that. The changes mean that prep to grade 2 students will receive a minimum of 25 minutes a day of explicit teaching in phonics. However, since then the unions have cracked it and plan to go rogue. So my question for the Minister for Education is: what is the minister’s plan to ensure that the unions do not overrule the government’s mandate to teach Victorian children to read using a structured phonics-based approach?