This is International Literacy Day and the Gallant government took the opportunity to announce a $2.25 million investment in literacy programs to help Grade 2 students struggling with reading.
Gallant gov’t invests $2.25 M to improve reading among Grade 2 students through ELF, Elementary Literacy Friends Program #nbpoli #nbnews pic.twitter.com/S5NSV6ADv8
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) September 8, 2017
Elementary Literacy Inc. will administer the funding over a five-year period for its anglophone program, Elementary Literacy Friends, and its francophone program.
For two hours per week over ten weeks, the after school program pairs up each student with a trained volunteer to help strengthen and build upon classroom teaching.
Speaking at Evergreen School in Moncton today, Premier Brian Gallant quoted educators who say children should be learning to read at the beginning of Grade 2 and reading to learn by the end of that year.
“What that means is that at one point there is a pivot point in our school system and if they (students) don’t have the basic literacy skills that they need then they could get left behind,” he says.
Premier Gallant reads to students at Evergreen School on International #Literacy Day #Moncton #nbnews #nbpoli pic.twitter.com/YGPSqqsZfV
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) September 8, 2017
Elementary Literacy Inc. executive director Dr. Erin Schryer says data shows children in the program are improving their reading skills and are also becoming more confident readers.
Dr.Erin Schryer with Elementary Literacy Inc explains importance of provincial #literacy investment #nbpoli #nbnews pic.twitter.com/kpfw575FbG
— 91.9The Bend News (@919TheBendNews) September 8, 2017
