Media Release 30 May 2024
The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA) is concerned by the absence of funding in today’s budget announcement for essential school library resources to address the falling literacy rates in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Whilst we applaud the allocation of funds to structured literacy programmes, we are concerned that without access to school libraries and specialised librarians to promote and encourage reading for pleasure, the potential of literacy programmes will always be limited.” says Sasha Eastwood, SLANZA Interim President.
“Today’s funding announcement is an encouraging first step in supporting our ākonga to learn to read, however, school libraries are essential to ensure that the building blocks of structured literacy are strengthened by developing the joy of reading, increasing reading comprehension, empathy, and the capacity to learn.” continues Sasha.
SLANZA urges the government to mandate that every student have access to a well-resourced school library, funded by the Ministry of Education, and staffed by a specialised school librarian. This way all students will have equitable access to the resources needed to achieve their reading and learning potential.
The Education Minister has previously stated, “our education system should be the great equaliser. Your means should not determine your destiny.” SLANZA would argue that school libraries are the greatest equaliser, in that equitable access to books and reading for pleasure is crucial to every student’s literacy and learning success.
