The Finocchiaro CLP Government has today delivered on another election commitment by announcing the 'Boosting Literacy and Numeracy Plan'.
This plan will see all NT Government schools embrace a consistent, evidence-based approach to learning, centred on the explicit teaching of reading and mathematics, with a $14.2 million commitment in the 2025-26 budget.
Explicit teaching is an evidence-based practice that follows an 'I do', 'we do', 'you do' approach, where teachers break down concepts into small, more manageable steps, allowing students to build understanding and independence.
Announcing the plan at Katherine South Primary School, Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said the new plan will ensure all NT Government schools are more consistent for students, families and teachers.
"The Finocchiaro CLP Government has taken a back to basics approach to ensure every student builds strong reading and maths skills," she said.
"Our plan aligns to the evidence that shows that students who learn through explicit teaching make greater learning gains than students who do not.
"Every child deserves a quality education, regardless of where they are in the Territory, and we are committed to working with and supporting schools to have a consistent teaching approach."
Minister Hersey said teachers would be well supported to adopt the plan with improved resources and professional learning being provided to all NT Government school teachers to help reduce teacher workloads.
"Our teachers have the greatest impact on student learning. In this Year of Action, Certainty and Security, we're making sure they have the tools and support they need to confidently implement these teaching strategies," she said.
Many schools across the Territory have already adopted explicit teaching strategies with great success such as Katherine South Primary School.
Principal of Katherine South Primary School, Chris Errington, said: "As a principal, I see every day how explicit teaching works in the classroom."
"Teachers are finding that it engages all students no matter their level and ensures they all have an opportunity to learn. It is the backbone to providing positive student outcomes at our school.
"I see the confidence of our teachers growing every day when they see the progress of their motivated and enthusiastic students," he said.
Families and carers will also benefit with complementary learning materials developed to support their children's learning at home and reach their full potential.
