Henry-Wilson - File

Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer

A link between illiteracy and violence in schools has raised concerns which the Ministry of Education and Youth hopes to address through the introduction of more than 100 special educators.

According to Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson, results from the grade four literacy test and the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) are showing that there is a serious problem with illiteracy in primary schools across the country, and it is correlated to the growing problem of violence in schools.

Not reading at required level

Based on statistics provided by the Education Minister during her response to questions from Opposition spokesman on education, Andrew Holness, during Wednesday night's session of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee, at least 40 per cent of children taking the GSAT exams were not reading at their required level.

"The results are saying that we have to focus on illiteracy and numeracy at the primary level," said Mrs. Henry-Wilson.

She added: "[Recently] we had the discussion about violence in schools. The Ministry of Health, based on a school survey which they have done, pointed out that 35 per cent of the children who are caught up in this violence and poor behaviour are children who are not literate. And it is not a problem of them not learning to read or write, but they have difficulties, they have learning challenges."

Learning difficulties

The Education Minister said about 20 per cent of children have learning difficulties and are not being given the attention they need because they are not tested for these challenges.

She admitted that one of the major reasons for the low level of literacy was the poor early childhood education systems.

"Its not just a question of not having been taught to read, there are all kinds of diagnostic issues that we have to deal with including the fact that they have to have classroom libraries where they are set assignments to continue reading," she added.

Mrs. Henry-Wilson said however that a resolution is on the way as the Ministry of Finance and Planning has allocated funds to employ 129 special educators who are expected to be introduced into the system over time into the 100 lowest performing primary schools. A national literacy coordinator and regional coordinators have also been appointed, the Education Minister said.