New chapter in literacy lessons

Yet, while Musharaf’s story is such an uplifting one, it also highlights the amount of time and money that needs to be invested in schools across Yorkshire if the area is to gain a world-class reputation for education excellence and climb up those Government league tables where the region has been languishing at the bottom of the class for far too long.

It is why The Yorkshire Post is today launching a new campaign, called Turning The Page, that is intended to act as a catalyst of change. As well as encouraging children and young people to develop a love of reading and writing – two of the most important life skills – as part of our new literacy awards, this newspaper will highlight the extent to which academic attainment is intrinsically linked to the future economic prospects of this region.

This is illustrated by this shocking statistic: more than 2,000 students started secondary school in Yorkshire last September with the reading age of a seven-year-old. This is 2,000 children, a typical attendance at a lower league football match, who – by the age of 11 – will have little chance of fulfilling their potential in life.

In this regard, it is primary schools that hold the key to future success at GCSE level. If youngsters do not grasp the key skills during their formative years, they will struggle to make the grade at secondary level.

It is why there needs to be a more collaborative approach to policy-making – with a recognition that pupils, parents and teachers all have a role to play. The challenge, however, is finding a way to embrace Mr Burton’s example and do more to help pupils, like Musharaf, to turn a new page in their lives – and their education – at a time when resources are so stretched and teachers so under-valued by the Government.

Clegg challenges Ukip on Europe

THERE will be many who are diametrically opposed to the passionate case for the European Union which Nick Clegg set out to Lib Dem activists in York.

Yet the problem for the Deputy Prime Minister, and like-minded people, is that the debate about Britain’s future role in Europe has effectively become hijacked by Ukip after it supplanted the Liberal Democrats as the protest party of choice.

As public sympathy for Ukip has grown, both the Conservatives and Labour have been forced to adopt a more Eurosceptic stance – David Cameron and Ed Miliband both know that they need to win back disillusioned voters if they’re to win next year’s general election.

To his credit, Mr Clegg has never deviated from his pro-Europe stance, despite his party’s poor poll ratings, and his spring conference speech was an impassioned one as he sought to reclaim the mantle of ‘patriot’ from Ukip’s Nigel Farage by

saying there’s nothing patriotic about risking British jobs and investment by flirting with exit from

the EU. “Open not closed. In not out. Great Britain not little England. Forward not back. Hope not fear. The future not the past,” he concluded.

It is why the upcoming debates between Messrs Clegg and Farage will be so fascinating. Until now,

many of Ukip’s assertions have been left unchallenged – a state of affairs that Mr Clegg is not prepared to tolerate any longer. His pro-business argument is one that needs to be made and heard before Britain goes to the polls.

Britain’s benevolence to charities

IT is testament to the enduring generosity of British people that they maintained their donations to charities throughout the recession, and are now looking to increase their benevolence.

This is a source of great pride. Without the voluntary sector and work of charities, this country would be a much poorer one and it would be churlish not to acknowledge all those who give up so much in order to help the less fortunate.

However, two points should be made. First, the Government should not take the goodwill of charities for granted – Ministers need to work

with the voluntary

sector.

Second, it would be remiss of the charities

if they did not acknowledge the concerns of those benefactors who

want their money spent on certain projects

rather than political lobbying. Both issues need acknowledging.