Immediate Returns from Basic Skills Spending
The National Assembly Government can expect immediate returns from
the £27 million it is spending on literacy and numeracy basic
skills over the next three years, according to international expert
Dr Thomas Sticht.
Speaking at the Cardiff launch of Tools for the Learning Country,
a new report published jointly by the IWA and the Basic Skills Agency,
Harvard Professor and Adviser to the US Government Dr Sticht said:
"Unlike government investment in childhood education, for
which we must wait up to twenty years or more to begin receiving
a payback, we get a return from adult education almost immediately."
International research shows that governments can expect multiple
returns in at least five areas, he says:
- Improved productivity at work, at home, and in the community
leading to higher tax bases, decreased violence at home and in
the community, and greater participation in citizenship activities
by a larger segment of the adult population.
- Improved self confidence and psychological health of adults
contributing to reduced medical costs.
- Improved health of adult's children and fewer learning problems
in school.
- Improved productivity in the schools by providing adults with
the knowledge they need to better prepare their children to enter
school.
- Improved criminal justice system as a result of prisoners
overcoming social exclusion and re-joining mainstream society.
Tools for the Learning Country outlines the basic skills strategy
being rolled out in Wales over the next three years, identifying best
practice in schools, libraries and adult, family and early-years centres
across Wales. The strategy is tackling a serious basic skills deficit.
One in four adults in Wales - more than 480,000 - have poor basic
skills. Welsh children leave primary school with 22% not achieving
the required level in English and 26% in Maths. The gap widens to
38% in each case by the age of 14.
For further information contact John Osmond, IWA Director,
on 029 2057 5511
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