Aiding adults with poor literacy levels would ‘boost job market’
Addressing the Workplace Basic Education seminar, Computer Placement Ltd chief executive officer Anne Heraty workers with poor literacy levels should be prepared for the next economic upturn.
Ms Heraty told the conference the country must learn from the Celtic Tiger boom when there were many labour shortages.
“I am convinced that by supporting those in work who have low levels of literacy we could address some of these inevitable shortages, which will arise during the next economic upturn. Workplace Basic Education programmes would allow these staff to up-skill to fill vacancies now and in the future.”
Officially opening the event, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: “Of all the disadvantages faced by people, problems with literacy and numeracy can have the most profound effect in preventing individuals from fully benefiting from their working lives.”
The event, titled Filling the Gap, was organised by the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). The agency has been responsible for much of the pioneering work in finding solutions to adult literacy problems.
Mr Ahern said although most companies had health and safety and other specific skills training, basic education programmes in the workplace were still a relatively new concept. A recent report from the Taskforce on Lifelong Learning recommended basic skills, including literacy, should be included in a foundation qualification in workplace skills.
For many, literacy skills that were adequate in the past were no longer so. Therefore, workers needed to continually upgrade skills and qualifications to stay effective in the work environment.
The Taoiseach said 28,000 people took part in adult literacy schemes last year. Outlining action since an OECD survey in 1997 showed 25% of the Irish adult population scoring at the lowest literacy levels, he said almost €18 million was provided this year for adult literacy schemes.
Mr Ahern paid a special tribute to 4,000 volunteer literacy tutors around the country.
“Literacy is a matter for the entire community, for parents, for families, for employers and trade unions and especially for schools,” said Mr Ahern. “While the Government is responsible for putting a high quality structure in place for the delivery of education, the co-operation of the community is essential for the successful implementation of educational policy.”
Chris James, executive director of the UK’s Cleaning Industry National Training Organisation (CINTO), said: “We have found in research that 80% of problems are due to basic skills deficiency, misunderstanding and failures of communication, while 19% lack of job specific skill. As a result basic skills are essential to perform a wide range of activities safely and effectively within the workplace.”
Further information: National Adult Literacy Agency, 76 Lr Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 and www.nala.ie
