Step 3 - Literacy

3.  Literacy - Basic Facts and Skill Development (NCEA English and Maths)

We can all agree that a full understanding of the most basic facts surrounding literacy is a critical foundation to specialisation.  The trouble is, people are ready (i.e. have a good grounding in the basic facts) for specialisation at different ages.  Some people are ready for University at 15 or younger, some at 16, some at 17 or 18, and some aren’t ready until they are 42 years of age (or older!).  The important thing is the student has full comprehension of many basic facts relevant to their chosen area of study before they specialise.  People are ready at different ages because motivation has a different vehicle for everybody but the point is everything starts with the general basics and many out there (typically at-risk youth) are missing these.  Our systems seem to be maximising things at the University level so perhaps now the quickest way to lead the worldwide knowledge wave is to help more people at the basic level.  Could doing so grow our already excellent tertiary sector even more?

For young people lacking the basic foundations of literacy we would suggest the most important aspect of learning the basic facts and skills behind NCEA level English and Maths is the question, “Why bother?” 

A good example of the resulting conundrum is the advent of text language.  Youth can be expected to think NCEA English is a complete waste of time given the total acceptance of youth and adult alike to routinely communicate in written text speak.  The impression is that text speak, an overly-simplified form of English, is universally acceptable.  Over time, this may become true.  Right now though, if you want to be a journalist, house designer, or builder, (and probably a million other professional things), a good basis in NCEA English (sometimes to a higher level than High School) is necessary to communicate precisely.