Adult Literacy and Numeracy

Education and Training
- Lifelong Learning
  - Adult Literacy and Numeracy

Adult Literacy and Numeracy

Adult Literacies in the Scottish Government

News: Learning Connections celebrates International Literacy Day 2008

In July 2001 the Scottish Government published the Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland report (ALNIS). Informed by 7 pieces of research, this publication started a major national initiative in adult literacy and numeracy teaching and learning in Scotland. The Big Plus taxi This led to:

£65m of funding made available to 2008 to help adults improve their literacies
Around 180,000 new learners helped in the first five years to March 2007.
Funding provided through the 32 local authorities to Adult Literacies Partnerships
Strategic plans submitted by all the partnerships, indicating how the funding will be used.

In January 2003, the Learning Connections team within Communities Scotland was set up, focusing on research, development, training, quality, and the promotion of adult literacy and numeracy. In 2007, this team moved into the Lifelong Learning Directorate.

The ALNIS report is currently being refreshed to take account of recent research and developments since the original report was launched and will set out a new strategy to 2011.

The Scottish approach

The ALNIS report defines adult literacies as:

"The ability to read, write and use numeracy, to handle information, to express ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners."

The Scottish approach to adult literacies adopts a social practice model, which sees literacies as a key dimension of community regeneration and a part of the wider lifelong learning agenda. Such an approach recognises that:

literacy and numeracy are complex capabilities rather than a simple set of basic skills
learners are more likely to develop and retain knowledge, skills and understanding if they see them as relevant to their own context and everyday literacy practices.

Tutors are encouraged to negotiate an individual learning plan, selecting the knowledge and skills that are most relevant to the individual learner's goals.