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Government updates Skills for Life strategy

Plans to improve the numeracy and literacy skills of one million adults to help them to get and keep jobs were published yesterday by Sion Simon, minister for further education.

'Skills for Life: Changing lives' updates the government's Skills for Life strategy launched in 2001.

The new strategy document sets out:

* A new drive to ensure Skills for Life training will help people develop the skills they need to find and progress in work

* What is being done to increase the opportunities for people to do Skills for Life learning embedded in wider vocational training programmes

* Support for colleges and providers to make Skills for Life learning more flexible so it meets the needs of individual learners and fits in with their busy lives

* How jobseekers will have the opportunity and support they need to improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills while they're looking for jobs

* How delivery of Skills for Life at work will be expanded through the Train to Gain service

The government says it will back up the updated strategy with funding of more than £1bn over the coming year.

Sion Simon said: "Our Skills for Life strategy has helped nearly three million adults improve their skills, but the world has changed since we launched it in 2001. The current economic conditions make it even more crucial that people have the numeracy and literacy skills they need for work and for helping their families, and that's why we're publishing a refreshed strategy today.

"We are working with providers to make sure our numeracy and literacy courses are tailored to what people want and need in their lives, and I particularly want to tackle the culture which says that it's ok to be bad at maths.

"We're offering adults real help to improve their skills and there are free numeracy and literacy courses for all adults who want one - just call 0800 66 0800 or visit our website and find out about the free courses in your local area."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "The TUC knows that access to learning can transform lives for working people. With the help of their union learning representatives (ULRs) and employers, many workers have benefited from the Government's Skills for Life Strategy, gaining new skills and qualifications that help them get on at work, support their children with schoolwork and contribute confidently to their communities and unions. We are pleased to see Government restating and refreshing its commitment to Skills for Life, and the TUC will play its part in contributing to its success."

Alan Tuckett, chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), said: "The Government has achieved a great deal since the launch of Skills for Life but no one should be under any illusions about how far we have to go to make improvements in numeracy skills commensurate with literacy, and to ensure that provision is directed towards those most in need. This strategy is a strong commitment which we welcome."

The updated strategy is published as the 'Get On' advertising campaign promoting free adult maths courses returns to TV screens.

In addition to three weeks of TV advertising, which started on 2nd March, there is an ongoing PR campaign and a schedule of radio advertising that started on 9th March. The strategy update details how these marketing efforts will be renewed and extended to reach even more adults and employers.

The government reports that since March 2008, the Get On campaign has generated 19,613 phone calls and over 70,000 visits to the campaign website, with 20,662 adults requesting a free Skills for Life DVD.

The Skills for Life strategy was launched in 2001. Since then, the government says that a £5bn investment has enabled 5.7 million adults to improve their skills on 12 million courses, with 2.8 million achieving first qualifications.

Looking forward, the government's long-term ambition is for 95% of adults to have functional literacy and numeracy skills by 2020, up from 85% and 79% respectively in 2005.

External links

Get On website

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