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Since 1997, the Government has focused first on schools (with
the national literacy and numeracy strategies) and then on
adult learning, particularly basic literacy and numeracy.
In 1998 it asked Sir Claus Moser, chairman of the Basic Skills
Agency, to produce a report on how "to tackle the vast basic
skills problem in this country". A Fresh Start -
improving literacy and numeracy (DfEE 1999, ref: CMBS
1), known as the Moser Report, stated that up to 7 million
adults in England have difficulties with literacy and numeracy
- a bigger proportion than in any other western country apart
from Poland and Ireland. One in five adults, it stated, are
functionally illiterate - that is, if given the Yellow Pages
they cannot find the page for plumbers (more
adult literacy statistics).
The report recognised that there could be no quick fix and
that a long-term national strategy was necessary. The challenge
was to address issues of both supply and demand so that there
would be an improvement in the quality of provision on offer
and an increase in the number of adults coming forward to
take up this provision. The report suggested that the
Government would need to be spending about £680 million
a year by the year 2005 if it was to achieve the recommended
target of halving the number of people considered functionally
illiterate by 2010.
Many of the key recommendations of the Moser Report have
been implemented as indicated below.
Links:
| Recommendations |
Action |
| Set up a strategy and a unit to oversee
its implementation |
Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit
established under the leadership of Susan Pember (now
the Skills for Life Strategy Unit).
Skills for Life -
the national strategy for improving adults' literacy and
numeracy - was launched in March 2001. NLT's
response to the paper. |
| Set national target for improving basic
skills and increase participation |
The target set by Skills for Life specified
that by 2004, 750,000 individual learners must improve
their literacy, numeracy skills and/or language skills
. By spring 2002, 124,000 learners had done so. Between
April and December 2001, over 1 million learning opportunities
were provided to 696,000 learners. |
| Create a new national curriculum,
teaching standards and national tests |
The Qualifications and Curriculum
Authority and the Basic Skills Agency developed these,
starting from Autumn 2001. The adult basic skills curricula
for literacy and numeracy were first published
in February 2001, based on the national standards developed
by the QCA. For more details visit www.basic-skills.co.uk |
| Provide support for those for whom English
is an additional language |
Breaking
the Language barrier: report of the working group
on English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) October
2000. The Adult ESOL Core Curriculum was launched in May
2002 to ensure consistent standards in English teaching
for ESOL learners. Contact the Basic Skills Agency for
copies, as above. |
| Develop intensive training
programme for basic skills teachers - literacy, numeracy
and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) |
Lifelong Learning UK, formerly
the Further Education National Training Organisation (FENTO),
has produced subject specifications for teachers of literacy
and numeracy at Levels 3 and 4. The first of these new
qualifications was introduced in September 2002. www.lifelonglearninguk.org
Subject specifications for teachers of ESOL were developed
by the London Language and Literacy Unit. |
| Establish a new system of
inspection |
The Adult Learning Inspectorate has been created and,
along with Ofsted, given a clear remit by the Government
to separately inspect and report on adult literacy,
numeracy and ESOL. Inspections began in January 2002.
Specific guidance on inspecting adult literacy, numeracy
and ESOL has also been produced by each inspectorate.
www.ali.gov.uk
www.ofsted.gov.uk
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| Establish a research programme
to support the strategy |
A National Research and Development
Centre for Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL was established
in February 2002, led by the Institute of Education at
the University of London, in partnership with the universities
of Sheffield, Lancaster and Nottingham. www.nrdc.org.uk |
| Invest in workplace skills |
Workplace Basic Skills Network piloted
32 demonstration projects, and developed a training and
information network. A toolkit has been developed to help
employers to identify and address the needs of their employees. More
on workplace basic skills |
| Continue and develop community
literacy, and family
literacy. |
The
Adult and Community Learning Fund was set up to promote
community-based learning and runs until March 2004. Basic
Skills Agency family literacy/numeracy programmes extended.
Programmes were embedded in the Learning and Skills Council's
funding regime from April 2002. |
| Provide support to adults
with learning difficulties/disabilities |
Freedom to Learn report
published May 2000. The Pre-entry Curriculum Framework
and Access for All, guidance on making the
adult literacy and numeracy core curricula accessible,
were launched in May 2002. They were accompanied by a
national training programme on using the guidance alongside
the literacy and numeracy curricula. For more details
visit www.basic-skills.co.uk |
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