Weaving a richer narrative of adult literacy and numeracy: policy position proposal for ACAL

Australia is in urgent need for a national policy on adult literacy and numeracy. This policy must enshrine the principle of literacy and numeracy as a basic human right, and access to free and equitable provision of lifelong and lifewide literacy education as a social responsibility. Children are assured their right to education through federal and state education policies; however, there are many adults who are speakers of English as their first language who have not had the benefit of schooling or who did not succeed in school and need a second chance in education in order to improve their ability to negotiate their everyday needs, gain employment, support their family and be an active member of their community. A new national framework is needed that acknowledges the breadth and diversity of adult learner needs that must be addressed. The paper recommends a policy founded on an intergovernmental approach that connects the national policy with local response and responsibility, and in so doing, enables a single framework to facilitate responsiveness to the diverse and specific needs and demands in local contexts. It also suggests the necessity to transgress the traditional boundaries between education policy and broader social policies to maximise the range of social outcomes that are known to be associated with improved literacy.

In order to realise what is outlined, key priorities are: (1) the renewal of the specialist qualified adult literacy and numeracy workforce that would support research-informed, contemporary design and delivery of programs that are responsive to the literacy and numeracy demands experienced by adults; and (2) a stable and sustainable intergovernmental funding commitment.

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