Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2005): Education - UK - Training

SKILLS FOR LIFE: IMPROVING ADULT LITERACY AND NUMERACY

National Audit Office

London: TSO, 2004 (House of Commons papers, session 2004/05: HC20)

In March 2001 the Department for Education and Skills launched its Skills for Life Strategy which aims to break the cycle of low literacy and numeracy skills in England. Report finds that the DfES has met its 2004 target of increasing the skills of 750,000 people. However, further action is needed to:

• recruit teachers with up-to-date training in teaching literacy, language and numeracy;
• find innovative ways of involving people with the lowest skills in learning;
• persuade employers of the benefits of training;
• involve voluntary and community organisations.

UNDER-18S TARGETED FOR SKILLS TRAINING

M. Green

Financial Times, Mar. 17th 2005, p.15

Nine out of ten young people should stay in education or training until the age of 18, said Gordon Brown as he put measures to improve skills at the heart of his budget. Education allowances and targeted training would be introduced to encourage 17-year-olds not to drift into unemployment or low-skill, low-wage jobs.

UNIONS URGED TO HELP IMPROVE SKILLS

M. Green

Financial Times, Mar. 21st 2005, p.4

Trades unions are to receive millions of pounds of funding for schemes to lure workers into education and training. Ruth Kelly, Education Secretary, has launched plans for a £4.5m union academy. She says unions will be expected to help set and deliver the national skills strategy, after overcoming scepticism about their role in workplace education.