A dismal picture of adult literacy and numeracy in the UK

[johnny9fingers]

In the sixties, when we were prepared to spend our taxes on education, we had a literacy rate of over 99%

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jan/29/literacy-numeracy-skills

I quote from the article:

In 2001, the former Department for Education and Skills launched the Skills for Life strategy with the aim of helping 2.25 million adults by 2010. Two years later, it established by survey that 75% of the working-age adult population had numeracy skills below the level of a good pass at GCSE and 56% had similar literacy skills. At that time, the OECD ranked the UK 14th in international literacy and numeracy league tables.
In 2007, the government set a new target, to help 95% of the adult population achieve enough literacy and numeracy to get by in life by 2020.

Now according to United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index released in 2008 the UK has a 99% literacy rate and is equal 20th in the table with some thirty other countries.

Obviously there is some discrepancy between the two figures. If GCSE English and Maths are the minimum standards 'to get by in life by 2020' were not going to be able to have a third-world-comparative education system. If the comparisons we make are with the developed world and the education systems therein we're a trifle lacking, I fear. 'Twas always thus. We can't educate the plebeians, else who would sweep the streets? Actually in the UK that question is normally answered by the influx of refugee engineers and academics from various places-of-unrest about the globe.

It is actually possible to beat education into children. It may not be moral, but it is possible. What may be impossible is for someone unlettered and unnumbered to exist properly in our complex society.
Strewth, who'd care to be unlettered? By the time they are thirty, anyway?

Comments

[tripinthehead33.livejournal.com]

It is a failure here as well. The fact that people with college degrees are seen as worthless in the eyes of companies who would prefer to have someone older with actual experience again is speaking volumes about this country. The days when these more experienced folks were being let go, and the companies were bringing in younger folks with their masters degrees is waning.

I believe, to be honest, it's partly, and there are many other reasons, but partly due to the fact these schools try to cram so much shit into 12 years of learning. So much shit that most people will never need to know in their lives. 7th and 8th grade science for me was roughly all I really needed to learn for the life I live. Basic Biology after that helps, but the average person doesn't need chemistry or physics beyond some basic concepts which can be taught for both in a matter of months. Who needs to use Calculus or Trigonometry aside from very narrow career paths? Your average cook, or retail worker or construction worker doesn't need to know these things. They aren't being taught what they need to know in order to do what they do in life.

Schools should focus more on things like really making sure people do understand to read and even basic life skills. Communication, and basic, daily economic related things like proper investment and financial things. Why go into world economics if those basic things such as personal finance aren't covered? Why teach someone how to square root 1,297 if they don't teach someone how to properly communicate their problems with others under stress?