The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA) is pleased to see reading remains a core component of the draft English curriculum released this week, but is concerned that the lack of resourcing for school libraries limits its potential success. 

“The draft curriculum requires teachers to ‘choose texts that expose students to a wide range of genres, reflect the languages and cultures of students, and explore the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific’,” explains SLANZA President, Sasha Eastwood.

“To provide this variety of texts demands access to a well-resourced school library with a specialised librarian to aid teachers and students in making these choices, and to ensure that this choice is indeed possible,” says Sasha. 

Likewise, the draft curriculum requires reading for enjoyment and reading aloud to be part of students’ everyday experiences and SLANZA agrees that these are key to developing literacy and a love of reading.  

Yet it is currently estimated that two-thirds of students in Aotearoa do not have access to a school librarian, the key person to champion and bring the magic of literacy to life for them. 
 
“SLANZA is concerned that without access to school libraries and specialised librarians to promote, encourage, and facilitate the enjoyment of reading, the potential of any literacy programme or strategy will always be limited,” says Sasha. 
 
SLANZA urges the government to mandate that every student have access to a well-resourced school library and specialised librarian, to ensure that all students have equitable access to the resources needed to achieve their reading and learning potential.   

Contact: Sasha Eastwood - [email protected]

Ngā manaakitanga
SLANZA Advocacy Ohu Mahi

Media Release 30 May 2024 
Building on Structured Literacy: The Need to Fund School Libraries

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.
 
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Contact – Sasha Eastwood, SLANZA Interim President – [email protected]