Senator Reads for Australia

Australian Greens spokesperson for Schools, Senator Penny Wright, will be taking part in the Australia-wide Read for Australia event today to celebrate National Literacy and Numeracy Week and shine a light on the importance of all Australians receiving the best education possible.

"Good literacy and numeracy skills are among the most important things we can equip our children with," Senator Wright said.

"Unfortunately, our international performance on literacy and numeracy has been slipping over the last decade. There is also a shameful gap of up to five and a half years between the top and bottom 20 per cent of students by year nine.

"These are signs that our education system is seriously broken. But the Gonski review has given us the best chance in more than a generation to fix the system and make it fairer and more effective for all Australian kids.

"It is public schools who take the lion's share of children who come from a disadvantaged background. We have to ensure that our education funding system gives all of them a fair go.

"If we invest in our children, we also invest into the future of our nation - something in the best interest of all Australians."