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date: 03/12/03 embargo: For Immediate Release |
Attention: education, social and political correspondents and newsdesk editors
Pages 2
TUC touchdown with Skills for Life Conference
In 1999 the Moser Report, 'A Fresh Start' identified 7 million adults as lacking functional literacy and numeracy skills. A staggering 50% of these adults were identified as being in the working population.
Moser further charged trade unions with activities to reduce this shocking problem. Since then the TUC and trade unions have been active in enabling our members to address literacy and numeracy problems and a number of good practice models and strategies have emerged. A recent follow-up survey conducted by the Department for Education and Skills (published in October) shows that there have been improvements and early success with the figure now estimated at 5.2 million.
However, it also impresses the need for the collective efforts to be sustained as 1.7 million adults aged 16-65 still have literacy skills below Entry Level 3 - the standard expected of an 11 year-old, and this figure rises dramatically to 6.8 million for the same standard of numeracy. The TUC, its affiliates and the Learning Services arm especially are dedicated to improving the adult skills base of the country.
The Northern TUC recognises that our region fares worse than any other in terms of adult Skills for Life (with a national average of 23% becoming closer to 30% in some areas of the North East). Yet, the TUC and regional branches of unions have been, and continue to be, extremely active in putting programmes and initiatives into place to address these discriminating issues. Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary commented 'Skills for Life are a key building block to personal development and equality of opportunity and is vitally important to the north east. As a small region we must make sure everyone is able to realize their full potential.' Anne Hansen, Learning Services Co-ordinator added, '…skills for life is an equalities issue. For too long training and development has been targeted at those who are the best qualified. Union learning reps are ensuring that, through enabling our members to get good skills the educational wealth of our nation is being redistributed.'
So, as part of the continued and sustained commitment to improving the skills base and encouraging more people to engage with the Skills for Life ethic and delivery of learning opportunities, the Northern TUC are holding a half day conference on Friday 5th December at the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club to be attended by all bodies and organizations involved. The conference will hear keynote speeches on the union role in Skills for Life acquisition and case studies of good practice. There will be workshops on current issues around the topic, facilitated by regional and national experts in the field.
Notes to Editors:
All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
Conference at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Football Club 9am -1pm.
Please call if you would like to attend.
Contacts:
Media enquiries : Susanne Nichol on 0191 232 3175 or 07771873108)
Other enquiries: Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary or Anne Hansen, Learning Services
Co-ordinator on 0191 232 3175.
Press release (600 words) issued 3 Dec 2003
