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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out his strategy for improving adult basic skills with particular reference to (a) the costs of the programme, (b) methods of delivery, (c) professional development for those involved in tuition and (d) the criteria for its evaluation. [141556] Mr. Wicks: [holding answer 12 December 2000]: On 5 December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued a statement on how the Government propose to improve adult basic skills. Measures include new standards, a national test and curriculum, new learning materials and programmes and action to target specific groups of adults with basic skills needs. Spending on this programme will rise from £241 million in 2000-01 to £313 million in 2001-02, £366 million in 2002-03 and £403 million in 2003-04. Raising standards through training and qualifications for new and existing teachers will be a key part of the strategy. The national strategy, to be launched early next year, will be evaluated through pathfinder projects and regular monitoring of progress at national level against the target of reducing the number of adults with weak literacy and numeracy skills by 750,000, by 2004.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

359 c237W;359 c235W; 141556

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Curriculum Adult education Finance Standards Teachers Training Literacy Basic skills Numeracy

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk