Government axes Manukau literacy programme

The government has chosen not to invest in a new adult literacy and education programme developed by COMET and the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

The new programme is based on the highly regarded Manukau Family Literacy Programme (MFLP), which COMET, in partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has been running in Manukau for seven years.

Six Manukau schools and early childhood centres have partnered with COMET and AUT to make this programme highly effective and have all experienced positive changes in the school community, just one of many outcomes.

“This programme is too good to lose!” says Nola Hambleton, principal, Manurewa South.
“We’ve overcome huge hurdles by getting more dialogue with parents at the early childhood and primary schools levels.”

Over 350 Manukau families have been though the existing Manukau Family Literacy Programme with outstanding results. Graduates from the programme have gone on to higher education, obtained degrees, promotions, become teachers, social workers and business owners.

This programme meets all government priorities for education, productivity and reducing welfare dependency. However, earlier this month, education minister Anne Tolley turned down funding for this family literacy programme to go ahead in 2010 and beyond.

COMET is very disappointed that the partnership will end but it will continue to work on engaging families in learning.