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Improving literacy and numeracy
28/12/2008
The next step in the Scottish Government's campaign to improve adult literacy and numeracy will be launched next month, when a national survey will be conducted to measure adult literacy and numeracy levels.
This latest move will establish the current general levels of the population - a baseline against which to measure the success of future initiatives to improve literacy and numeracy in Scotland. It will also provide the information required to measure progress on the National Indictor 'to reduce the number of working age people with severe literacy and numeracy problems' (national indicator number 12).
The survey is the latest in package of measures to improve literacy and numeracy, including:
- The development of Curriculum for Excellence, through which the Scottish Government is placing literacy and numeracy at the heart of education
- Work to improve literacy and numeracy levels by raising awareness of the support available through the Big Plus campaign
- Ensuring work-related training which includes literacy and numeracy is eligible for funding through Individual Learning Accounts
- Allocating funding to local authorities for Adult Literacy and Numeracy provision as part of the local government finance settlement.
The Scottish Adult Literary and Numeracy Survey, to be conducted by a consortium led by the University of Glasgow, will help provide the necessary information to build on that work.
It will also:
- Explore the social characteristics of those with literacy and numeracy issues to ensure the right support is targeted to the right people
- Provide some comparisons with a previous adult literacy and numeracy survey, the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), published in 1996
- Enable comparisons of Scottish literacy and numeracy levels with other countries, to ensure Scotland is performing well internationally on these crucial skills
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hysop said:
"Literacy and numeracy skills are the foundation upon which individuals can undertake further learning and training to find a job, stay in a job and contribute to Scotland's economic future. Providing the right support is therefore vital to ensuring we have a workforce with skills that both employers and our country need.
"Through Curriculum for Excellence we are placing literacy and numeracy at the heart of education. For the first time under devolution, teachers of all subjects will be responsible for developing these skills and we have published advice on the use of literacy across the curriculum. We are also working to improve adults' literacy and numeracy levels by raising awareness of the support available through the Big Plus campaign and helping providers deliver high quality learning.
"We have also ensured that work relating training which includes work based adult literacy and numeracy learning is eligible for funding through the Individual Learning Accounts Scotland (ILAs) scheme - further supporting individual and workforce development, the principal aim of our Skills Strategy.
"This survey will enable us to build on that work and provide a clear picture of adult and literacy numeracy levels in 2009 - a baseline against which we can compare future levels to see whether these are improving. It will help identify those who need more help and ensure that that help is effective. Finally, it will benchmark our performance against other developed nations to ensure our people have the right skills they need to grow as individuals and to enable our economy to grow."
Sue Pinder, Lead Principal for Scotland's Colleges said:
"Scotland's Colleges welcome this survey and we are keen to play our part in contributing to the Scottish Government's literacy and numeracy strategy. Colleges have strong links with local communities throughout the country and a network of experts in learning centres who can advise and support those looking to improve their literacy and numeracy levels. Our sector is well-placed to support the Scottish Government's work in this field."
John McKnight, Chair of Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland said:
"Community Learning and Development (CLD) Managers Scotland and its partners through local CLD partnerships are well placed to contribute to the Scottish Government's Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.
"With a strong track record in successfully engaging and supporting adult literacies learners from local communities, CLD partnerships have been able to demonstrate significant impacts towards improving the lives and skills of individuals across Scotland's communities.
"Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland welcome this initiative and are fully supportive of the Scottish Governments efforts to address this key issue."
The Scottish Government is required to gather data for the National Indicator number 12 to 'reduce the number of working age people with severe literacy and numeracy problems'. The technical note for this indicator states that the evidence source will be a national survey of adult literacy and numeracy, which is expected to report in autumn 2009. At present, a proxy measure from the Labour Force Survey is being used to evidence this National Indicator.
The survey will begin towards the end of January. It is envisaged that in line with the National Indicator, the top line findings will be available during autumn 2009.
The contract to undertake the survey has been awarded to the University of Glasgow in consortium with the University of Edinburgh, Gallup Europe and the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). The contract will run until the end of December 2009.
Approximately 2,500 people will be assessed through the paper/pen based survey. All respondents will be given an introduction letter from the Scottish Government on the survey and information on where they can obtain further help with their literacy and numeracy skills.
Our skills strategy - Skills for Scotland: a lifelong skills strategy, recognises the critical importance of improving literacy and numeracy capabilities of all adults. Literacy skills are an indispensable key to individuals achieving their potential - in further learning, in work and in the family and wider community. To help ensure we have a workforce with the skills that both employers and our country needs, work related training which includes work based adult literacy and numeracy learning is eligible for funding through the Individual Learning Accounts Scotland (ILAs) scheme. This funding supports individual and workforce development which is a principal aim of the Skills Strategy and is in addition to free non-workbased literacies learning.