LABOUR wants to put new literacy teachers into schools to improve children's reading and writing.

Jim Murphy announced his plan at a school in Springburn during World Book Day.

The Labour leader wants to invest £36m to employ 200 specialist literacy teachers in schools in 20 areas where children from working class families are achieving lower results.

Mr Murphy also wants to introduce a First Minister's reading prize similar to a scheme in Australia to boost reading levels.

Speaking at Elmvale Primary School in Springburn Mr Murphy said: "The ability of Scotland's kids to read and write shouldn't depend on how much money their parents have. It's a moral scandal that in the 21st century where a child lives and what their parents do for a living still determines their ability to get the best education.

"I don't want to just help the kids in some of Scotland's most deprived areas. In too many families the parents can't help their children with homework because they can't read or write well themselves."

Labour said Scotland has the lowest percentage of university entrants from the poorest backgrounds, the lowest proportion of entrants from state schools and the highest proportion of students dropping out of university in the UK.

Mr Murphy said studies show the effect poverty has on education.

The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy last year highlighted pupils living in areas of least deprivation are more likely to be performing better in terms of numeracy than pupils living in areas of most deprivation at each stage in their education.

Mr Murphy added: "The days of accepting second best for working class kids are over."

The proposal is part of Labour's £125m plan to address the attainment gap that sees pupils in schools in less well of areas get lower results than children in more affluent areas.

Mr Murphy previously announced he would re-instate the Chartered Teacher status and employ people with a record of improving attainment in secondary schools. He also wants to increase the number of classroom assistants in the feeder primary schools and help improve the literacy of parents to help with homework.

The reading prize idea is based the Premier's Reading Challenge in South Australia, and will involve setting a target of school pupils reading at least twelve books in a school year.

Mr Murphy said "If I am elected First Minister I will establish a Reading Prize for Scotland's kids. I want this initiative to achieve two very simple things, encourage kids to read more books and help them to enjoy reading.

"For children to know the value of books is to open their minds up to a whole world of possibilities. I want Scotland's kids to expand their horizons and lose themselves in the world of books.

"The evidence from across the world shows that the more kids read, the better they do at school."