Statistics have been released highlighting the alarming rate at which young Australians’ literacy age has declined.
A 2024 report from the Grattan Institute shows that in a classroom of 24 students, eight will struggle to read.
With an increasing number of mandatory tests in schools, children who can’t read proficiently will fall behind, according to English teacher Brooke Smart.
“In order for students to reach their full potential in other aspects of English….reading really forms the building block on which everything else is built,” Mrs Smart said.
“Reading allows students to formulate coherent thoughts based on a variety of opinions, helping them develop their critical thinking skills.”
Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the organisation behind the National Assessment Proficiency – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing has highlighted the declining rate in young Australians in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Mrs Smart believes that reading is the solution to these declining numbers.
“Students who have been reading from a younger age tend to have a more developed and complex vocabulary, making the tasks of writing and spelling theoretically significantly easier,” she said.
“Being exposed to books as a child, reading and being read to, is so helpful in the development of a child.”
Future opportunities for young Australians are significantly impacted by the declining literacy rates.
All aspects of learning is built upon literacy, and deficiencies in this area can hinder overall academic performance, restricting opportunities for higher education and employment, Ms Smart said.
University of Wollongong student Madeliene Saxby is an avid reader and an advocate for the importance of young people reading regularly.
“I’ve always loved reading, it’s something I’ve never had to force myself to enjoy, I do think that having read from such a young age has positively impacted my educatio,” Ms Saxby said
“Being able to read well makes life so much easier, you don’t realise how important having good literacy is until you see others struggle, it is very eye-opening.”
The New South Wales Department of Education has recognised this issue and has changed its framework to address this issue and encourage reading and literacy from a young age.
Video: Learning to read at a young age can develop a child’s speech, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. It is also believed that reading can positively impact educational outcomes, allowing people to become more familiar with the unexpected and the uncomfortable.