IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1July 2003

OECD REPORT REJECTS SELECTION

Commenting on the report Literacy skillsfor tomorrow from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,published today 1 July 2003, John Bangs, head of education at the NationalUnion of Teachers, said:

The OECD report is an indictment ofstreaming and selection. There can no longer be any argument forselection. It is a message theGovernment cannot afford to ignore. Nor can it ignore the message that teachersmust have autonomy to take professional decisions.

It is a reasonable inference that heavyhanded interventions from Government on testing are working against childrenenjoying learning, particularly reading which is a fundamental prerequisite forsuccess.

EN D PR.49/03

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