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22/08/2005
School leavers 'lacking in three Rs,' report claims
The education system is failing to provide many school-leavers with the rudimentary arithmetic, reading and writing skills necessary for work, a survey has warned.
The report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that just over half of GCSE pupils achieved a Grade C in Maths (54%), while only six in ten gained a ‘C’ grade in English, last year.
The CBI said that 42% of employers are unhappy with the basic skills of school-leavers. Half of them also believe that teenagers do not have sufficient communication, team-working and problem-solving abilities, the CBI said.
The results have been published ahead of this year’s GCSE results, which are due to be published on August 25.
Commenting on the survey, CBI Director-General Sir Digby Jones said: “A working knowledge of English and Maths provides a vital foundation for the modern world of work – but the education system is failing many young people by leaving them ill-equipped.
“The UK is the fourth richest economy on Earth. Surely it cannot be beyond us to ensure all our young people have the basic skills they need to get on at work? Yet sadly, too many, particularly boys, are being left behind. How can school-leavers hope to succeed in the modern world if they cannot read or write?”
The CBI said that 80% of jobs required basic competency in the 3 Rs, and, according to 2004 CBI figures, 83% of businesses believed that improving basic literacy and numeracy levels should be the ‘number one priority’ for the education system.
Sir Digby said: “Too often bosses have to pick up the pieces and the bill, with many resorting to basic training to compensate for the shortcomings of an education system they have already contributed to through business taxes.
The CBI said that government pledges to raise standards and eradicate illiteracy and numeracy were welcome, but said there had been “no clear action” to back up the promises made in the education white paper published in February.
Sir Digby said: “We need to see action as well as words – at the moment the UK economy is losing up to £10 billion a year because of poor basic skills, whilst our school-leavers are held back from fulfilling their potential. Too many emerge from our education system with no feeling of self-worth – leading to social dislocation, crime and wasted futures.”
(KMcA/SP)
The report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that just over half of GCSE pupils achieved a Grade C in Maths (54%), while only six in ten gained a ‘C’ grade in English, last year.
The CBI said that 42% of employers are unhappy with the basic skills of school-leavers. Half of them also believe that teenagers do not have sufficient communication, team-working and problem-solving abilities, the CBI said.
The results have been published ahead of this year’s GCSE results, which are due to be published on August 25.
Commenting on the survey, CBI Director-General Sir Digby Jones said: “A working knowledge of English and Maths provides a vital foundation for the modern world of work – but the education system is failing many young people by leaving them ill-equipped.
“The UK is the fourth richest economy on Earth. Surely it cannot be beyond us to ensure all our young people have the basic skills they need to get on at work? Yet sadly, too many, particularly boys, are being left behind. How can school-leavers hope to succeed in the modern world if they cannot read or write?”
The CBI said that 80% of jobs required basic competency in the 3 Rs, and, according to 2004 CBI figures, 83% of businesses believed that improving basic literacy and numeracy levels should be the ‘number one priority’ for the education system.
Sir Digby said: “Too often bosses have to pick up the pieces and the bill, with many resorting to basic training to compensate for the shortcomings of an education system they have already contributed to through business taxes.
The CBI said that government pledges to raise standards and eradicate illiteracy and numeracy were welcome, but said there had been “no clear action” to back up the promises made in the education white paper published in February.
Sir Digby said: “We need to see action as well as words – at the moment the UK economy is losing up to £10 billion a year because of poor basic skills, whilst our school-leavers are held back from fulfilling their potential. Too many emerge from our education system with no feeling of self-worth – leading to social dislocation, crime and wasted futures.”
(KMcA/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
