COAG Reform Council

Media Release

COAG making gains in literacy and numeracy

22 October 2010

In releasing its second year reports today on the National Agreements in education, and skills and workforce development, the COAG Reform Council has commended governments on significant improvements in literacy and numeracy achievement.

Following the council’s baseline reports released last year, these second year reports—National Education Agreement: Performance report for 2009 and National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development: Performance report for 2009—are intended to focus on progress and measure change over time.

The council found significant improvement between 2008 and 2009 in primary school literacy and numeracy achievement, both nationally and at a State and Territory level.

“It is particularly encouraging to see that these national improvements were evident among Indigenous students and students from low socio-economic backgrounds,” Chairman of the COAG Reform Council, Mr Paul McClintock AO said.

Coinciding with the economic downturn, the council also found a significant decrease between 2008 and 2009 in the post-school participation of young people, in full-time employment.

Employment outcomes for training graduates were worse in a majority of States and Territories over the same period.

“Although the worst of the economic downturn is behind us, it’s crucial that COAG continue to address the repercussions. Our reports show that the effects were evident with young people and training graduates struggling to find full-time employment,” Mr McClintock said.

While welcoming some improvements, the council is again urging COAG to address substantial data inadequacies to improve public accountability.

For many of the outcomes, particularly in the report on skills and workforce development, limited data sets have hindered the council’s ability to carry out its role of performance reporting.

This lack of quality data becomes more problematic as the council’s focus shifts to assessing change over time.

“Public accountability for the performance of governments is a hallmark of a robust federation. This requires access to performance data—from key administrative and survey data sets—that are meaningful, timely, accurate, and comparable across and within jurisdictions,” Mr McClintock said.

“Yet, once again we find ourselves urging COAG to resolve issues of data development and adequate information.”

Download the full report at www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au/reports/skills.cfm.

Media contacts: Megan Staunton, 02 9329 7368, 0419 346 890