Bringing phonics into Australian schools

The Morrison Government will ensure student teachers know how to teach the fundamentals of learning to read. 

Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Government had started work delivering another election promise. 

“Our Government will fund the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to provide expert advice on incorporating phonics into the national accreditation standards for initial teacher education,” Mr Tehan said. 

“I have tasked AITSL to create a small taskforce to advise on implementing the Government’s phonics in ITE election commitment. 

“AITSL will draw on the taskforce’s expertise, focusing on ensuring graduate teachers can teach the fundamentals of literacy through learning how to teach the five essential elements of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, comprehension. 

“Our Government believes in the primacy of developing strong literacy and numeracy skills as the bedrock of a quality education. 

“There is clear evidence that children benefit from phonics instruction in learning to read and spell so our Government wants teachers to have the skills to teach phonics well. 

“AITSL will progress the proposed changes to the accreditation standards to all education ministers for endorsement in December 2019. 

“Our Government will also introduce a free, voluntary phonics health check for Year 1 students so parents and teachers can better understand a child’s reading level and what support they may need.”