Yahoo Lifestyle Thirty per cent of Aussie kids 'can't count'
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The ongoing study, which was implemented in 2004, analysed the numeracy skills of 11,000 children across the country aged four to nine using National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) data. It also studied child development across different social, economic and cultural environments.
Lead researcher, Dr Galina Daraganova, presented the findings this week at a Social Policy Research Centre seminar, revealing that children aged four to five were well developed overall and able to recognise numbers and classify and sort objects. However, one in three could not do simple addition or count to 20. A third of children aged six to seven also had difficulty with some tasks, including calculating change using coins and using simple measurement tools.
Eight to nine year-old kids were found to be well skilled in creating and extending patterns and using measurement tools, but one third have trouble with fractions and division.
The findings also revealed that numeracy levels varied according to socio-economic background and family circumstances. Children from poorer backgrounds generally performed at a lower level than those from higher socio-economic backgrounds. And those with a single mother or with three or more siblings also had lower numeracy scores than kids living with two parents or with only one or two siblings.
The study also showed a slight gender difference, with girls performing lower in terms of numeracy skills, and overall there was little improvement in numeracy from 2008 to 2012.
Tell us what you think. Do you think our kids have bad numeracy skills? Does socio-economic and family status play a part?
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