Union concerned by narrow focus of literacy and numeracy provision

UCU has warned that an increasingly narrow focus of literacy and numeracy provision on employability could reduce overall engagement and success rates.

Speaking as the Business, Innovation and Skills select committee met today to discuss adult literacy and numeracy, UCU highlighted its own submission [147kb] to the BIS inquiry, which pointed towards research that said learners respond better to 'flexible, bespoke learning programmes which can respond to individual learner needs.'

While welcoming additional funding for initial teacher training in further education, the union's response criticised the 'punitive' approach to unemployed adults which fails to develop skills for careers, stating that skills assessments for unemployed people should be a 'proper diagnosis rather than [...] a tick box exercise and they should not be a tool for applying sanctions.'

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Literacy and numeracy skills are absolutely vital, not only for employment but in order for people to interact and engage fully in society. The government needs to foster a much wider approach to improving skills in this area, recognising that improving employability is not the only goal.