Issued: 28 March 2002
Angus Literacy And Numeracy Action Plan Launched
A Challenging and demanding programme of work has been set out in the Angus Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan (launched Thursday 28 March 2002).
The action plan has been prepared by the Angus Community Learning Strategy Partnership to tackle low literacy and numeracy skills in adults, a problem experienced by over 800,000 Scots.
Speaking at the launch of the Angus Action Plan John Burt, principal of Angus College, one of the key participants in the Angus partnership, said that literacy and numeracy were essential if people were to participate in and contribute to their communities.
“The vision for a modern and vibrant Scotland is one where each of its citizens is equipped to fulfill their potential - improving literacy is central to that. Low levels of literacy can exclude people and hamper not only the development of the individual but also that of communities.
“It is important therefore for us to set ourselves targets to improve the situation in Angus and put in place programmes to achieve them. How else can we hope to fulfill the vision we have for the county, as outlined in our Community Plan, that Angus will be dynamic and outward looking and be ready and able to contribute to the culture, environment and economy of Scotland. “
Angus Council chief executive Sandy Watson gave another of the keynote addresses at the launch seminar and stressed that the way forward was in gaining a better understanding of the learner’s needs.
“Formal research into local needs will give us a clearer picture of the Angus situation and how best we can address it. However it is already clear that progress can only be achieved by a partnership approach.
“Today’s seminar has been designed to help agencies begin to work out how they can best contribute. In the weeks and months to come it is hoped that more and more organisations will come to see themselves as partners in a broad based alliance, driving up literacy and numeracy standards. ”
“Through the implementation of this Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan the partnership aims to improve the quality and quantity of literacy and numeracy programmes in Angus to better equip our citizens to meet the challenges presented by individual, family, work and community life.”
Around 45 participants from public and private sector agencies attended the launch seminar at the Angus Conference Centre. In addition to the keynote addresses from Angus Council chief executive Sandy Watson and college principal John Burt those attending took part in two workshops. The first looked at recognising and understanding literacy and the second explored some of the practical responses and support organisations can offer to adults experiencing problems.
Background Notes
The Angus Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan aims to :
- help 550 new learners over the next two years
- explore new learning methods for: - parents and families, homeless people, young people with few or no qualifications, people with learning disabilities, offenders, employees and those experiencing specific literacy problems eg form filling.
- raise public awareness of the issue to encourage people to participate and reduce the stigma associated with seeking support
- train individuals and agencies to spot signs of literacy and numeracy problems to help them support the adults concerned and help them access suitable learning provision.
- The existing partners in the Community Learning Strategy are: AAVO, Angus College, Angus Council, Employment Services, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Tayside Careers Ltd., NHS Tayside, The Network for Adult Guidance in Tayside, University of Abertay.
- The 1997 International Adult Literacy Study suggested that 23% of adults in Scotland (800,000) had poor literacy and numeracy skills. More than half of them were in employment but only 20% of employers believed literacy and numeracy were a barrier to productivity.