Nationally qualified
In September 2001 National Tests for Adult Literacy and Numeracy were launched, based on national standards. The Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit tries to ensure that the qualifications are recognised by employers.
The tests consist of 40 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each – similar to those used in the driving test.
The literacy test lasts one hour; it covers the skills of reading, comprehension, understanding writing techniques and spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Fighting against fatalism
A national strategy, more money than ever and a tougher legislation are the weapons in the combat against functional illiteracy.
England has a working tool with the ‘Skills for Life Strategy’. It was launched in 2001 by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Dius) and is managed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). It aims to increase the number of adults improving their literacy skills towards Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE A-C) which is defined as the level needed for employability. “Skills for Life is a radical and successful strategy which has transformed the teaching of basic literacy skills in England ”, says Kirstie Atkin, press officer for Dius.
The first radical step taken was to ban the terms ‘illiteracy and innumeracy’ and call them skills for life. Sue Southwood, development officer at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace), explains: “We don’t use the term illiteracy – it’s very rare in the UK and also very negative. We tend to focus on what skills people have got and how we can help them to improve those skills. We have a qualifications framework and regard anyone who is below Level 2 in literacy as needing support in order to be able to function effectively both at work and in life in general.”
The rest of the world and organisations like the Uno or Unesco keep on using ‘functional illiteracy’, and so do the media around the globe, including the British media.
Advice is needed
Apart from this embellishment the ‘Skills for Life Strategy’ is well founded, it is mainly based on the recommendations of the Moser Report. The report was commissioned by the government in 1998 to analyse the country’s basic skills problem, and as a result it proposed a national strategy.
Initially the standards of learning were raised, the quantity of courses increased and people were encouraged to take up learning. All functionally illiterate adults are now entitled to confidential assessment of their skills on demand; they receive advice and can attend a variety of flexible programmes of study, including online lessons – and everything is free of charge.
Advice is needed though because there are 222 literacy courses offered by 67 providers, from colleges and adult learning centres to private companies and businesses. There is a national adult basic skills curriculum and teacher training programmes, and all courses on offer are required to meet national standards – only then do they qualify for funding.
Teacher Lesley Jordan appreciates all but feels the strategy is “rather restricting and prescriptive”, and she concludes: “It took the fun out of it.” Isabel Peters, curriculum manager Skills for Life at Poole Adult Learning, is not sure about the targets and that the right people will meet these targets. Her colleague June Warmington says that they were "pushed too far too fast". The strategy though pays off: MP David Lammy reports in the ‘Skills for Life brochure 2008’ that 1.7 million adults have gained qualifications so far. That means the goal of 2.25 million by 2010 is feasible.
However, experts do not believe the ultimate goal of 95 per cent literate adults by 2020 will be reached, since there will always be people slipping through the literacy net. As Jacky Tooth, curriculum manager Skills for Life for Dorset Adult Learning Service, points out to be on Level 1 is already high standard: “If I would go to Weymouth beach tomorrow and ask people about apostrophe rules I believe not many would know them.” Dorset Councillor David Crowhurst says alluding to generations who never worked: “Human nature being what it is there will always be people who are not interested to learn.”
Pay bonuses
Dius knows only too well that inertia and fatalism are its chief enemies. The government is considering introducing financial incentives for learners, for example a £100 bonus for the completion of a qualification. The Learning and Skills Council invests altogether £600 million a year into ‘Skills for Life’. The sum is 40 per cent higher than for other comparable programmes. About the same amount is invested by other bodies and organisations. It is a higher financial amount than ever before, but the money must obviously be better spent.
In order to reach risk groups such as the elderly, homeless, travellers, people who left school without qualifications, young people not in education or training, long-term unemployed, and asylum-seekers, Dius seeks collaboration with voluntary and faith-based organisations, schools, health visitors, childminders and heads of nurseries.
However, the main targets at the moment are:
