Literacy news

Poll suggests more people embarrassed to confess poor literacy skills than numeracy skills

2 Mar 2012

A YouGov poll for new charity National Numeracy suggests that while four out of five people would be embarrassed to confess to poor literacy skills, just over half would feel the same about admitting to poor maths skills.

National Numeracy says poor numeracy is blighting Britain's economic performance and ruining lives. The charity added that millions of people struggle to understand a payslip, train timetable or pay a household bill.

Government figures show almost half the working population of England have only primary school maths skills.

Chris Humphries, chairman of National Numeracy and a former chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, said:

It is simply inexcusable for anyone to say 'I can't do maths'. It is a peculiarly British disease which we aim to eradicate.

Last year's Skills for Life survey showed that the drive to improve literacy was working, with almost six out of 10 people in England having strong reading and writing skills.

But the same figures also showed that high level maths skills in England were declining.

The plan is to emulate the success of the National Literacy Trust, which has helped improve reading and writing standards since it was set up nearly 20 years ago.

See the full article at the BBC.

Tags: Adults, Children, Early Years, Young People

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