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Literacy

Answer

We have taken action to ensure that the qualifications we support are those which rigorously test knowledge and skills and which are recognised by employers. Since August 2012 we have provided full funding to enable adults to take a GCSE in English. We have also removed the Adult Basic Skills Certificates and replaced them with more rigorous Functional Skills qualifications which test the application of skills in real-life situations as well as basic skills and understanding.

To ensure that young people are developing their English, we are embedding English within our major skills interventions. Our traineeships programme for young people, announced in June 2013, puts English (and maths) at its core, alongside work preparation and work experience. We have increased the expectations for English within apprenticeships. From 2014/15 all intermediate apprentices will be required to work towards achieving a level 2 in English, ensuring that all apprentices have literacy skills and qualifications that are widely recognised and valued by employers and others.

We are taking steps to improve the standard of the teaching work force within further education. From the academic year 2013/14, grants of £9,000 will be offered to English graduates and £20,000 to maths graduates to teach in those areas. These bursaries will help us recruit the brightest and best teachers so we can improve standards and provide people with the basic skills they need.

In June 2013 we announced that, from next April, unemployed people on JSA with very poor English language skills will be required to train to bring their skills up to the level expected by employers. They will be mandated by jobcentres to English language training with a further education provider.

Since August 2013 community learning providers have been expected to work in partnership with other learning providers and local people, services and organisations to agree priorities and approaches to meet the needs of people in their local area, including addressing low literacy where this is an issue.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

171851; 569 cc187-8W

Session

2013-14

Subjects

Literacy

Link

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