We want to encourage and enthuse adults to think about numeracy and widen participation in numeracy learning. If your job means that you can help to encourage others to get them thinking about numeracy and numeracy learning, you can play a vitally important role. The success of union learning reps and learning champions to engage and motivate adults back into learning builds on the importance of one-to-one relationships to encourage adults who are nervous or unsure about returning to learn. You can really make a difference!
The refreshed Skills for Life strategy document “Skills for Life: Changing Lives” (DIUS March 2009) sets out the PSA target for numeracy: 390,000 people of working age to achieve a first entry level 3 numeracy qualification by 2011 and includes a focus on the expansion of numeracy provision and growth in achievement.
Ambition 20:20 projected that the numeracy ambition will not be attained, with an expected outcome of between 88% and 90% of UK adults achieving functional numeracy. One of three main themes of the refreshed strategy is:
“raising demand for literacy, language and particularly numeracy skills among individuals and employers, changing the culture and attitudes to Skills for Life that prevent people from embarking on learning.”
The campaign will emphasise opportunities for numeracy learning and challenge negative attitudes. It will:
promote awareness of the contribution intermediaries can make
support intermediaries to raise the profile of numeracy in their own institutions
support intermediaries to raise and discuss numeracy issues with potential learners
offer tasters and fun activities to spark interest in numeracy learning
demonstrate the advantages of improving numeracy skills to potential learners
make numeracy more attractive and accessible.
Part of the campaign will be to encourage a greater understanding of numeracy learners:
Learners’ main motivations are to prove to themselves they can succeed in a high status subject; to give educational support to their children; for personal fulfilment; to gain a qualification.
Learning numeracy affects people’s identities and can change people’s dispositions and aspirations.
Many learners have had a poor experience of learning maths at school and returning to learning can be a daunting experience.
Poor numeracy had an effect on many dimensions of life chances, particularly for women. Parents tend to pass this disadvantage on to their children
