The University of Tasmania and the State Government has announced a new joint initiative aimed at improving student literacy and numeracy results.

The UTAS project team, which will be headed by Professor Ian Hay, will target Years 5 to 8, and has been formed in response to the outcomes of the NAPLAN results in Years 7 and 9. It will work with four secondary schools and one district high school, and their feeder primary schools. The aim is to develop and trial a number of ideas and initiatives that may be transferrable to all Tasmanian schools.

“This project is a response to state and national concerns surrounding literacy and numeracy results for high school students, and targets those students transitioning from primary to high school,”  UTAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen said.

“In the University’s strategic plan, Open to Talent, we highlight that sharing our knowledge, understanding lessons from the past, and building opportunity and capability for the future are key elements that the University brings to its community.