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At the time of this report, around one in five adults in the United Kingdom (UK) were not functionally literate with even more having difficulty with numeracy. The Working Group on Post-school Basic Skills was appointed in June 1998 to advise on strategies to support and develop the government’s plan for basic skills provision for adults which aims to help half a million adults annually by the year 2002. The Group conducted a review of the field of adult basic education (ABE). This document is the report of the Working Group which proposes a National Adult Basic Skills Strategy to complement the National Strategies for Literacy and Numeracy for schools and to attract potential learners into study schemes. The report briefly outlines the scale and causes of the problem and then describes the strategy which comprises ten main elements: national targets; an entitlement to learn; guidance, assessment and publicity; better opportunities for learning; quality; a new curriculum; a new system of qualifications; teacher training and improved inspection; the benefits of new technology; and planning of delivery. The report makes recommendations for each of these elements and proposes an implementation plan.

The Government response to this report thus far comprises 'Better basic skills', a leaflet outlining the Government’s plans to address adult illiteracy and progress thus far, and ‘Skills for life: the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills’ (indexed at TD/IRD 88.171). Show less