Press Release - Skills for Life: Improving Adult Literacy and
Numeracy
15 December 2004
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported
today that the Department for Education and Skills has made a good
start to its long-term strategy to improve the levels of adult
literacy and numeracy in England, but there are more challenges
ahead. While the Skills for Life Strategy has met its 2004 target,
if it is to meet the target for 2010 it will need to maintain and
build on what it has already achieved. For example the quality of
literacy and numeracy teaching will need to be improved further and
there are still barriers facing many of the people most in need of
assistance.
Twenty-six million people of working age have levels of literacy
and numeracy below those expected of school leavers. People with
the lowest levels of skills – those expected of a 9 to 11 year old
or below – can experience practical difficulties in their every day
lives. Many work in low-skilled employment, are unemployed, or on
benefits. In March 2001 the Department for Education and Skills
launched the Skills for Life Strategy which began a long-term
programme to break the cycle of low literacy and numeracy skills in
England. At least £3.7 billion will be spent on implementing
the programme by 2006. The Strategy is starting to have an impact
on people’s levels of literacy and numeracy and is increasing
participation in learning.
- The latest estimates suggest that the Department has achieved
its 2004 target of increasing the skills of 750,000 people.
Achievement of the 2010 target will require a further 1.5 million
learners to achieve a first qualification – so a further large
number of people needs to be encouraged into learning, from a wide
range of groups, some of whom will be harder to engage than
others.
- Before 2001, adult literacy and numeracy learning was low
status, and the Department started by doing a lot of work to
improve the framework for delivery. The quality of learning still
needs to be raised, and more teachers with up to date training in
teaching literacy, language and numeracy are needed. Initiatives
are in place to train teachers but will take time to make an
impact.
- The Department has sponsored a variety of approaches to
identifying people with low skills and engaging them in learning.
It will need to continue to find and sponsor new and creative ways
to persuade more people with the lowest skill levels that improving
their skills is worthwhile. There continue to be high barriers to
some people taking up opportunities to learn, or to them continuing
with learning once started. More providers need to develop creative
and flexible learning that attracts learners and encourages them to
improve.
- The Department has promoted initiatives to engage employers but
progress at local level is slow. Low skilled employees are one the
hardest groups to reach and more small and medium sized employers
need to be persuaded of the benefits of raising the skills of their
employees.
- Voluntary and community organisations are essential partners
because they are often best placed to encourage into learning those
people who are very hard to reach. Barriers to these organisations
becoming effectively involved have been identified and the Learning
and Skills Council is working to address them.
Sir John Bourn said:
"Higher levels of literacy and numeracy will benefit
England both socially and economically. More people will have the
opportunity to live richer lives. The Department has made
substantial progress since 2001 in improving the teaching of
literacy and numeracy and making more people aware of the options
and wanting to learn. But this is only the beginning. The
Department and its partners will need to be creative and responsive
if they are to reach another 1.5 million people by 2010. My report
sets out some of the steps they need to take if they are to
succeed."
Notes for Editors:
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is now at
www.nao.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from
The Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the
head of the National Audit Office which employs some 800 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 75/04
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