Press Release - Skills for Life: Progress in Improving Adult
Literacy and Numeracy
6 June 2008
The strategy to improve basic literacy and numeracy skills has
helped over 5.7 million adults achieve a qualification or other
specified learning aim at a cost of £5 billion, according to the
National Audit Office. The Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills and the Learning and Skills Council exceeded targets for
the number of adults reaching basic literacy and numeracy standards
(750,000 by 2004 and 1.5 million by 2007). The Department is also
on course to meet the 2010 target of improving the basic skills of
2.25 million adults.
Less progress has been made in strengthening numeracy skills
compared with literacy skills. Numeracy courses are less popular
than literacy courses with fewer people participating in them and
achieving qualifications. Many people with literacy and numeracy
needs come into contact with different parts of government, such as
Jobcentre Plus. The Department could make better use of these
contacts to engage people on Skills for Life courses.
Participation and achievement levels for people with a literacy or
numeracy need vary across the country. Based on the 2003 survey of
need, the North East and North West have the best rates of
achievement for both literacy and numeracy. In contrast, the East
of England and East Midlands have the lowest rates of achievement
for literacy and East of England and London, the lowest rates of
achievement for numeracy.
Between 2001 and 2004, spending on English for Speakers of Other
Languages courses tripled to almost £300 million a year. However,
demand for these courses has exceeded supply, particularly in
London.
Although significant progress is being made against targets, until
the Department updates its assessment of literacy and numeracy
needs, the scale of the challenge regarding adult skill levels will
remain unclear.
The skill levels of the adult teaching workforce are improving but
many do not hold relevant qualifications in all subjects they
teach. Two-thirds of literacy and numeracy teachers teach more than
one subject, but fewer than 10 per cent of these hold appropriate
qualifications in all subjects they teach.
Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said
today:
“The Skills for Life strategy is making good progress in improving
the skill levels of adults with poor literacy, language and
numeracy skills. Building on this progress, the Department needs to
reduce regional variations in participation and in achievement
levels for people with literacy or numeracy needs. It could also
work more closely with other parts of government to encourage
people to take up Skills for Life courses.”
Notes for Editors:
- The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has
taken forward work of the Department for Education and Skills
before it on Skills for Life.
- The 2010 target refers to the number of people achieving
qualifications - a person achieving more than one qualification
should only be counted once. Only qualifications at Entry Level 3
(the national school curriculum equivalent for attainment at age
9-11), Level 1 (equivalent to GCSE grades D-G) or Level 2
(equivalent to GCSE grades A*-C) count towards the target, and only
specified qualifications count. Specified qualifications are the
national tests of literacy and numeracy developed for Skills for
Life, approved qualifications in English for Speakers of Other
Languages, Key Skills qualifications in communication and
application of number, and GCSEs in English and mathematics.
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at http://www.nao.org.uk/.
Hard copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Tim Burr, is the head of
the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He and the
NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 26/08
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