Teacher Unions and English organizations are still trying to block this test with all sorts of excuses; like teachers don't want more tests and children should not be tested etc. Teachers give spelling tests every week which many children fail. The NITL is still valid because the alphabet, spelling and child development does not change. Children will be stressed for life if they cannot read.
South Australia trialed the Year 1 Literacy and Numeracy Check and found the children were not stressed by the 5 minute check with their class teachers, who were satisfied with giving the test.
Recently teacher unions campaigned for more funding for kindergartens, praising 'Early intervention is best' yet they resist this test. It doesn't make sense. Teacher unions do not understand that all teachers will benefit by having all students able to read, as would employers. And public's respect for teachers would begin to restore again.
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But most importantly, 70,000 five and six year old innocent children every year would avoid the anxiety, shame, exclusion from education and loss of later income that illiteracy brings them.
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