New literacy standards are to be introduced to primary schools around the Island in a bid to ensure that pupils meet the grade in reading and writing skills.

Minister for Education Senator Milton Scott said yesterday that he would be releasing the standards to help guide teachers in their planning of the Literacy Initiative, and to enable schools, parents and the community to see what is expected from students.

The standards are to be distributed in draft form and teachers and principals will be invited to comment on them.

The Education Ministry launched the Literacy Initiative in all public primary schools at the start of the September term.

The programme has been used in the UK, resulting in improvements in literacy standards, and has been adopted and Bermudianised for use on the Island.

Sen. Scott said he was pleased with the way the initiative was developing and said feedback he had received so far showed that teachers and principals were approaching the programme in a positive manner.

His comments come after both the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the Association of School Principals said teachers and principals were feeling overwhelmed by the number of changes that were coming at one time.

They said not only had the Government launched the Literacy Initiative this year, but had also introduced other new systems, including a new primary school curriculum, which is to be piloted this year and put into general use next September.

The organisations did not criticise the curriculum or literacy programme, but said perhaps Government was demanding too much at one time.

But the Minister said yesterday: "Recent press articles have reported that teachers are stressed by new initiatives.

"But it is initiatives like this one that enable teachers to stay on the cutting edge of their profession and to use the best teaching practices in their lessons.

"Teachers deserve the support and professional development that this initiative offers - and students deserve the quality education that results from initiatives like this one."

He said teachers had been asked to complete an evaluation form on the launch of the initiative, and more than 80 percent of those that did so thought the launch had been very good or excellent.

He added: "Clearly, the Literacy Initiative is off to a good start with schools. We now have a full-time literacy strategy manager, Wendy McDonnell.

"Her expertise in this area is impressive and she has tremendous enthusiasm for literacy."

And he said there were also three literacy advisors who were spending time in schools to support teachers.

Sen. Scott said a development programme was being developed for all primary school teachers to help them use Literacy Place effectively, which is the resources and equipment for the Literacy Initiative.

And he said the aim was for all primary schools to adopt a common lesson structure, known as Literacy Time, which will see children spending 90 minutes every day on reading and writing.